inspection
What is the sensation of a rapid or strong heartbeat called?
Palpitations.
What does palpation mean in physical examination?
Using the hands to examine the body by touch.
Which organ is examined by percussion during a cardiovascular examination?
The heart, mainly to estimate its borders in traditional clinical examination.
How many main heart sounds are normally heard in a healthy adult?
Two main heart sounds: S1 and S2.
What is auscultation?
Listening to sounds produced by internal organs, usually with a stethoscope.
What visible signs should a doctor look for when examining a patient with suspected heart disease?
Skin color, cyanosis, edema, shortness of breath, body position, and general condition.
What is the apical impulse?
The impulse produced by the contraction of the heart, usually felt in the left fifth intercostal space near the midclavicular line in adults.
What may an enlarged area of cardiac dullness suggest?
Possible enlargement of the heart, although other factors can affect percussion findings.
What causes the first heart sound (S1)?
Primarily closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves at the beginning of ventricular systole.
At which area is the aortic valve best auscultated?
The right second intercostal space at the sternal border.
Where does swelling most commonly appear in a walking patient with right-sided heart failure?
In the feet and lower legs (ankles and shins).
What can palpation of the chest over the heart help identify?
The location and character of the apical impulse and abnormal palpable vibrations.
In which direction is cardiac percussion generally performed to determine the heart borders?
From areas of lung resonance toward the expected cardiac dullness.
Where is the mitral valve area usually auscultated?
At the cardiac apex, typically in the left fifth intercostal space near the midclavicular line.
What causes the second heart sound (S2)?
Closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves at the end of ventricular systole
What is the name for difficulty breathing that becomes worse when lying down and improves when sitting up?
Orthopnea.
What two characteristics of the pulse should be assessed by palpation?
For example, rate and rhythm; volume and symmetry may also be assessed.
During percussion, the area of cardiac dullness appears enlarged. What should the doctor do next?
Correlate the finding with history and physical examination and consider further assessment, such as echocardiography.
What is a heart murmur?
An extra sound caused by turbulent blood flow in or near the heart.
Which pulse is commonly checked at the wrist during a cardiovascular examination?
The radial pulse.
What is the purpose of visual inspection of the chest in a patient with cardiovascular disease?
To identify visible pulsations, chest deformities, and abnormal movements in the precordial area.
A patient has a palpable vibration over the precordium. What should the examiner do next?
Determine the location and timing of the thrill and correlate it with cardiac auscultation and further examination.
Why is percussion less reliable than modern imaging for determining heart size?
Its results are influenced by technique, body structure, and adjacent organs.
A doctor hears an unusual heart sound during auscultation. What should be assessed next?
The sound's timing, location, intensity, pitch, radiation, and relationship to the cardiac cycle.
What three characteristics of the apical impulse should a doctor assess during palpation?
Its location, size (area), and strength.