1. Auscultation sites
2. Auscultation order
3. Heart sounds: S1S2splitting
4. Added sounds: S3S4opening snapsystolicclick
5. Murmurs: general considerationsgrading

Auscultation sites

• Aortic: 2nd right intercostal space.
• Pulmonary: 2nd left intercostal space.
• Tricuspid: 4th intercostal spaceat lower left sternal border.
• Mitral: 5th left intercostal space1cm medial to midclavicular line.

Auscultation order

• Mitral: bell.
• Mitral diaphragm.
• Tricuspid.
• Aortic.
• Pulmonary.

1st heart sound

• Sound:
• Where: 
• Why: mitraltricuspid valves shutting.
• Loud DDx:
  • Mitral stenosis.
• Soft DDx:
  • MR.

2nd heart sound

• Sound:
• Where: 
• Why: 2 parts: aortic then pulmonary valves shutting [A2P2].
  • Loudness of a component tells it shut with high pressureso HTN therein circuit.
• Aortic component loud DDx:
  • Aortic HTN.
• Pulmonary component loud DDx:
  • Pulmonary HTN.
• Soft DDx:
  • AR.
  • Calcification of aortic valve.

Splitting

• Sound:
• Why: either aortic valve shut early or pulmonary shut late.
• Increased normal splitting [wider split when inspire] DDx:
  • Delayed RV emptying (pulmonary stenosisRBBB).  
• Fixed wide splitting DDx:
  • ASD.

3rd heart sound

• Sound: in early-mid diastolelow-pitched"gallop sounding".
• Where: apexlouder on expiration.
• Why: ventricular distensionmay be normal.
• DDx:
  • Normal in children
  • Constrictive pericarditis.
  • Mitral regurgitation
  • Tricuspid regurgitation
  • LVFRVF

4th heart sound

• Sound: higher pitchlate diastole"gallop sounding"
• Where:
• Why: ventricular filling resistancealways pathologic.
• DDx:
  • HTN
  • MI
  • AS
  • Heart block

Opening snap

• Sound: high-pitched click after S2.
• Where: lower L sternal edge.
• Why: stiff mitral valve suddenly opened.
• DDx:
  • Mitral stenosis.

Systolic click

• Sound: high-pitched clicksoon after S1. Click followed by AS or PSmurmur.
• Where: aorticpulmonary ausc sites.
• Why: stiff aortic valve suddenly opened.
• DDx:
  • AS.

Murmurs: general considerations

• Can be either systolic or diastolic. Students will only hear systolic.
• Mnemonic for whether murmur is systolic diastolic:
  • PASS and PAID:
  • PulmonaryAortic Stenosis = Systolic.
  • PulmonaryAortic Insufficiency = Diastolic.
  • Then mitral and tricuspid must be opposite to these.

Murmurs: grading

Graded on scale of 1 to 6.

1. Only cardiologist can hear.
2. Trained doctor can hear.
3. Student can hear. No thrill.
4. Thrill barely palpable.
5. Thrill easily palpable.
6. Can hear murmur by being in the room without a stethoscope.

Main Menu | Homepage