Apex of the heart
Encyclopedia
The apex of the heart is the lowest superficial part of the heart
.
It is directed downward, forward, and to the left, and is overlapped by the left lung
and pleura.
, 8 to 9 cm from the mid-sternal line, slightly medial to the midclavicular line
.
Alternately, it can be found about 4 cm below and 2 cm to the medial side of the left mammary papilla.
Heart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
.
It is directed downward, forward, and to the left, and is overlapped by the left lung
Left lung
The human left lung is divided into two lobes, an upper and a lower, by the oblique fissure, which extends from the costal to the mediastinal surface of the lung both above and below the hilum....
and pleura.
External anatomy
It lies behind the fifth left intercostal spaceIntercostal space
The intercostal space is the space between two ribs . Since there are 12 ribs on each side, there are 11 intercostal spaces, each numbered for the rib superior to it.-Structures in intercostal space:* several kinds of intercostal muscle...
, 8 to 9 cm from the mid-sternal line, slightly medial to the midclavicular line
Midclavicular line
A midclavicular line is a vertical line crossing through the left or right clavicle.-Clinical significance:It is useful for evaluating hepatomegaly and identifying heart sounds, as well as finding the gallbladder...
.
Alternately, it can be found about 4 cm below and 2 cm to the medial side of the left mammary papilla.