
Blood flow creates vibrations in the heart chambers
Heart
The heart is a muscular organ in most animals, which pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. Blood provides the body with oxygen and nutrients, as well as assisting in the removal of metabolic wastes. In humans, the heart is located between the lungs, in the middle compartment of the chest.
Where are heart sounds located?
If you remember from the last post, the sound “LUB” “DUB” is commonly associated with the normal sound of the heart. The first sound (LUB) is caused by the tricuspid and mitral valves slamming shut as the ventricles contract. This sound is called S1. The second sound (DUB) is caused by the pulmonic and aortic valves slamming shut at the end of ventricular systole. This …
Where are S3 and S4 heart sounds heard?
Certain heart sounds can also be diagnosed using sonography. Ultrasound is a great way to visualize valvular abnormalities. We recommend the website ultrasound.guide for free ultrasound training lessons and quizzes.
Where is S2 heart sound best heard?
Heart sounds are generated by blood flowing in and out of the heart’s chambers through the valves as they open and close. Listening to the heart sounds through a stethoscope (auscultation) is one of the first steps a physician takes in evaluating a patient’s medical condition.
How to chart heart sounds?
Sounds; Normal heart sounds : Murmurs: Audio examples: Aortic stenosis ( early) & AS- late. Mitral regurgitation : Pulmonic stenosis: Aortic insufficiency: Mitral stenosis: Benign murmur: Atrial septal defect: Ventricular septal defect: Patent ductus arteriosus: Extra heart sounds: Audio examples: Split S 2: S 3: S 4: Rubs: Audio examples: Pericardial rub (2 component)

Where are heart sounds found?
Heart sounds are created from blood flowing through the heart chambers as the cardiac valves open and close during the cardiac cycle. Vibrations of these structures from the blood flow create audible sounds — the more turbulent the blood flow, the more vibrations that get created.Jul 22, 2021
Where are heart sounds best heard?
Harsh crescendo-decrescendo systolic murmur. Heard best sternal border bat 2nd or 3rd intercostal spaces. Increases with inspiration....Blowing holosystolic murmur.Heard best at the apex.Radiation to the axilla and inferior edge of left scapula.
Where can I find S1 and S2 heart sounds?
6:0210:12How to Hear S1 and S2 Heart Sounds - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd that's still along that sternal border on the left side and that fourth intercostal. Space TMoreAnd that's still along that sternal border on the left side and that fourth intercostal. Space T stands for tricuspid tricuspid is s1 s1 sounds like love it's my first heart sound.
Where do you Auscultate heart sounds?
- Pulmonary area - left second intercostal space, just lateral to the sternum. This is the area where sounds from the pulmonary valve are best auscultated; - Aortic area - right second intercostal space, just lateral to the sternum. This is where the aortic valve sounds are best auscultated.Aug 28, 2007
How do you remember the heart sounds?
0:173:34Best -Remember Heart Murmurs In Seconds - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOnce you write that for systolic all you gotta do is write SS in the center and RR on either sideMoreOnce you write that for systolic all you gotta do is write SS in the center and RR on either side this will help you quickly recognize.
How many heart sounds are there?
In healthy adults, there are two normal heart sounds, often described as a lub and a dub that occur in sequence with each heartbeat. These are the first heart sound (S1) and second heart sound (S2), produced by the closing of the atrioventricular valves and semilunar valves, respectively.
Where are S3 and S4 heard?
Like S3, the S4 sound is low pitched and best heard at the apex with the patient in the left lateral decubitus position. Below is comparative information for S3 and S4.
How do you describe heart sounds?
In a healthy adult, the heart makes two sounds, commonly described as 'lub' and 'dub. ' The third and fourth sounds may be heard in some healthy people, but can indicate impairment of the heart function. S1 and S2 are high-pitched and S3 and S4 are low-pitched sounds.
What is a gallop heart sound?
Gallop rhythm is a mechanical event associated with a relatively rapid rate of ventricular filling and characterized by a ventricular bulge and a low-frequency sound.
Where do you listen for a heart murmur?
Mitral murmurs are best heard at the apex and radiate to the axilla. Mitral sounds can be accentuated with the patient in the left lateral position. Hence, to listen to a mitral murmur, first listen to the apex, then listen round to the mid-axillary line at the same level.Dec 20, 2021
How do you listen to a heart murmur?
0:464:19Heart Sounds and Heart Murmurs, Animation. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSite where they are best heard examples of conditions associated with common systolic murmursMoreSite where they are best heard examples of conditions associated with common systolic murmurs include mitral valve regurgitation when the mitral valve does not close properly.
What is the sound of a ventricular gallop?
This sound is also referred to as a ventricular gallop. S4 is an extra beat that happens just before S1. The sound is created as the atria strongly force the blood into the non-flexible ventricles. It is caused by hypertrophy of the ventricle due to aortic stenosis, hypertension or a heart attack.
What does S3 sound like?
It’s a low-pitched sound and is often referred to as sounding like the “y” in Ken-tuck-y.
Cardiac Auscultation Reference Guide
Our auscultation reference guide includes over one hundred heart sounds, both real and simulated. Use these buttons to view sounds by auscultation area.
Listen to Heart Sounds: Repetition Training
In addition to our heart and lung sounds reference guide, we provide an auscultation repetition training web app. This app allows users to learn by continuously listening to heart sounds. Use this link: Auscultation Repetition Training.
Lessons
Learn cardiac auscultation by taking our lessons. These courses cover abnormal heart sounds including heart murmurs, third (S3) and fourth (S4) heart sounds and congenital conditions. Learn these sounds by selecting a topic from the table of contents below.
How do you hear the heart?
Listening to the heart sounds through a stethoscope (auscultation) is one of the first steps a physician takes in evaluating a patient’s medical condition.
What is the fourth sound in the heart?
The fourth is a low-intensity sound heard just before S1 in the cardiac cycle. The sudden slowing of blood flow by the ventricle as the atrium contracts causes this sound, which may be a sign of heart disease.
Why does my heart beat irregularly?
AFib symptoms like heart racing, fluttering, and irregular heart beat may be caused by heart disease, obesity, alcohol use, thyroid disease, and other conditions. AFib medications may include blood thinners, drugs to control heart rate or convert the heart to a normal rhythm. AFib surgery is also a treatment possibility.
What is the purpose of the heart valve?
Heart valves ensure that the flow of the blood is in only one direction, by opening and closing as the heart pumps blood. The four heart valves are. Tricuspid valve separating right atrium and right ventricle.
Which organs receive blood from the lungs?
The heart is a muscular organ and has four chambers that receive and pump blood: Right atrium. Right ventricle. Left atrium. Left ventricle. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it into the left ventricle. The left ventricle pumps the oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body through a network of arteries.
What are the two phases of the cardiac cycle?
The cardiac cycle is made of two phases: Systole while the ventricles contract to pump out blood. Diastole when the ventricles relax and fill with blood. These two phases constitute the heartbeat. In a healthy adult, the heart makes two sounds, commonly described as ‘lub’ and ‘dub.’.
How can heart disease be prevented?
Heart disease and heart attacks can be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle with diet, exercise, and stress management. Symptoms of heart attack in men and women include chest discomfort and pain in the shoulder, neck, jaw, stomach, or back.
What are the different types of heart sounds?
Heart sounds are described by : 1 Frequency (pitch) as high pitched or low pitched. 2 Intensity (loudness) - soft or loud. 3 Duration- very short for heart sounds: silent periods are longer. 4 Timing -systole or diastole.
What are the extra heart sounds?
In some instances, extra heart sounds may be heard, these are the third and fourth heart sounds and additional sounds known as heart murmurs. Events in the cardiac cycle generate sounds that can be heard on the surface of the chest wall.
What is a murmur in the heart?
A murmur is a gentle, blowing, swooshing sound that can be heard on the chest wall. A heart murmur is a sound that is produced as a result of turbulent blood flow through a heart valve. The conditions which increase blood velocity cause a (flow murmur).. such conditions are exercise and thyrotoxicosis.
What are the two types of heart murmurs?
These murmurs are classified into two groups: Physiological or benign murmurs and pathologic heart murmurs. A physiological murmur is heard when there is increased turbulence of blood flow across a normal valve, as can happen in the conditions thyrotoxicosis and anemia, as well as during fever and exercise.
Why do aortic valves close before pulmonary valves?
Normally the aortic valves close before the pulmonary valves close. This is because of the lower pressures in the pulmonary circulation allowing the blood to continue flowing into the pulmonary artery after systole ends in the left ventricle.
Which type of murmur is softer?
Diastolic murmurs, occur during diastole of the ventricles and are always pathological. Compared to systolic murmurs. These murmurs are softer and more dicult to hear when compared to systolic murmurs
When does S3 occur?
The S3 occurs when the ventricles are resistant to filling during the early filling phase (early diastole) which is known as the (protodiastole). This occurs immediately after S2 when the atrioventricular valves open and the blood first pours into the ventricles.
Where are the aortic, pulmonic, tricuspid, and mitral valves located
The locations of auscultation center around the heart valves. The aortic, pulmonic, tricuspid, and mitral valves are four of the five points of auscultation. The fifth is Erb’s point, located left of the sternal border in the third intercostal space. The aortic point is located right of the sternal border in the second intercostal space. The pulmonic point is to the left of the sternal border in the second intercostal space. The sound that emits from the aortic and pulmonic points is the S2 “dub” of the typical “lub-dub” heartbeat. The S1 and S2 sounds are present in normal heartbeat patterns.
What is the aortic murmur?
Aortic and pulmonic murmurs are more easily identified with the diaphragm of the stethoscope when patients are in a sitting position, leaned forward, and asked to exhale. It is important to perform a comprehensive assessment of the heart, listening to all five points and keeping in mind which side of the chestpiece should be utilized ...
What is the difference between a stethoscope and a bell?
Classic stethoscopes have two sides of the chestpiece—the diaphragm and the bell. The larger, flatter side is the diaphragm and is used for listening to higher-pitched sounds. The bell is the smaller, concave side that allows for auscultation of lower-pitched sounds like some heart murmurs.

Heart Sounds
- FIRST HEART SOUND
1. Produced by the closing of AV valves(Mitral & Tricuspid). Best heard in Mitral & Tricuspid areas on precordium. M1 is preceded T1 only slightly. 2. It marks the beginning of systole(or ventricular contraction). 3. High pitched –Hence auscultated using the Diaphragm of Stethoscope.
Heart Murmurs
- Murmurs are caused by the blood flow across the valve(either from increased blood flow or defective valve).
Additional Heart Sounds – Opening Snaps
- Usually, the opening of cardiac valves does not make any sound. Opening snap occurs due to forceful “Opening” of a stenosed valve and it is described in Mitral stenosis (Refer MS). Hence it is always pathological. It is a high-pitched sound that occurs after S2.
Additional Heart Sounds – Pericardial Rubs
- The pericardial rub is a pathognomic physical sign of Pericarditis. It is characterized by a “scratchy or grating” soundbest appreciated along the sternal border with respiration suspended and the patient leading forward.