Cardiac Exam - Cardiac Auscultation Upper Left
Go to Harvey's bedside and evaluate our patient's:
Auscultation at the Upper Left Sternal Edge
Then Watch Discussion Below


Two important observations at the upper left sternal edge regarding the second heart sounds

Two important observations that must be made at the upper left sternal edge regarding the second heart sound: the first is respiratory splitting of the sound and the second is their intensity.


Auscultation is carried out in your patients by listening carefully in all four of the classic acoustic areas, however, in this case we shall emphasize two areas: the upper left sternal edge and the apex, because in this particular patient, that’s where the important acoustic information is found. Let us begin by listening together with the diaphragm of the stethoscope at the upper left sternal edge, listening carefully and observing respiration.