Cardiac Examination Positions and Techniques

S3 gallop = Heard immediately after S2, imitated as 'Lub-dub-DUB' S4 gallop = Heard just before S1, caused by atrial contraction Murmurs = Created by turbulent blood flow in the heart Aortic component of S2 = Heard loudest over the aortic and pulmonic areas

Left lateral decubitus position = Brings out left-sided S3 and S4 and mitral murmurs Sitting up, leaning forward, exhaling completely, and stopping breathing in expiration = Brings out aortic murmurs from aortic regurgitation Supine position = Ideal for hearing aortic component of S2 Prone position = Used to assess abnormal heart sounds during diastole

Hypertension = Can lead to ventricular hypertrophy and S4 gallop sound Coronary artery disease = Can contribute to ventricular abnormalities causing abnormal heart sounds Cardiomyopathies = May result in abnormal heart sounds such as S3 gallop Aortic stenosis = Associated with murmurs and potential abnormal heart sounds

<p>'LUB lub-dub' = Imitates the gallop sound of S4 'Lub-dub-DUB' = Imitates the abnormal sound of S3</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Asking the patient to sit up, lean forward, exhale completely, and stop breathing in expiration = Accentuates or brings out aortic murmurs from aortic regurgitation Asking the patient to roll partly onto the left side into the left lateral decubitus position = Brings out left-sided S3 and S4 and mitral murmurs Using the bell of the stethoscope placed very lightly against the chest = Helps in hearing very low-frequency gallop sounds</p> Signup and view all the answers