cardiac assessment

• Lub-dub


  One heart sound
• S1


  First heart sound, corresponds to closing of tricuspid and mitral valves
• S2


  Second heart sound, corresponds to closing of aortic and pulmonic valves
• Listening to the heart

  1. Place stethoscope to chest

  2. Hear lub-dub

  3. Count as s1 and s2
• Ventricles contract


  Pump blood out of the body
• Diastole phase


  Hear s2 as aortic and pulmonic valves close
• Increased intensity of heart sounds

  • Can indicate certain conditions
• Performing cardiovascular assessment


  1. Check rhythm regularity

  2. Assess heart rate

  3. Note any whooshes or clicks
• For patients on digoxin, listen to apical pulse for 1 full minute
• Herbs point


  Preferred location for auscultating heart sounds and murmurs, between 3rd intercostal space and left lower sternal border
• Heart sounds can radiate, so listen at multiple points on chest
• The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs through the pulmonary veins.
• The right ventricle is the smaller chamber on the right side of the heart.
• The left ventricle pumps oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body through the aorta.
• ABNORMAL: S3 EARLY DIASTOLE in rapid ventricle filling
• ABNORMAL: S4 LATE DIASTOLE and high atrial pressure(forcing blood into a stiff ventricle)
• AORTA

  • Away from the heart