Apex beat

The apex beat is the furthermost point outwards (laterally) and downwards (inferiorly) from the sternumat which the cardiacimpulse can be palpated. The cardiac impulse is the result of the heartrotating, moving forward and striking against the chest wall during systole.

The normal apex beat lies in the 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line.

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It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apex+beat Wikipedia article Apex beat.