Heart Sound Landmarks?

Published

Specializes in MEDICAL, SURGICAL, OB-GYNE, SCRUB NURSE.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG:

heart sound landmarks

aortic - 2nd ICS right sternal border

pulmonic - 2nd ICS left sternal border

erb's point - 3rd ICS left sternal border

tricuspid - 4th ICS left sternal border

mitral (PMI) - 5th ICS left midclavicular line

angle of louis - manubrial sternal junction at the second rib

I'm confused with the tricuspid coz it says in a book that its located at the 4th ICS and another book says 5th ICS. Which is which?

Specializes in Ortho/neuro rehab, dialysis.

I've always learned as you did. I wouldn't worry too much about that 1 intercostal space. Good Luck!!

It is the 5th intercostal space same as mitral (tricuspid) :nuke:

I've been wondering the same thing, but I didn't want to ask lol! I believe this is the way it goes. I really don't want to pick up my "nursing assessment" textbook...I have bad memories about that thing lol. Do u take ur NCLEX soon?

I've been wondering the same thing, but I didn't want to ask lol! I believe this is the way it goes. I really don't want to pick up my "nursing assessment" textbook...I have bad memories about that thing lol. Do u take ur NCLEX soon?

Yes, I will be taking mine July 30th.

To answer your question, you have listed everything correctly...tricuspid is at 4th ICS...glance at this site and it will give you a better idea of the locations:

http://www.monroecc.edu/depts/pstc/backup/parashs1.htm

for Erb's point, just visualize it being right above tricuspid (3rd ICS)

Sounds as if you've got it and hopefully they won't be putting a tricky version of this question on the test.

Wonder if the OP got that question and if they got it right? Or if they have passed NCLEX by now?

Hi - this is what I learned (to make it more confusing...)

Aortic - 2nd ICS @ R sternal border

Pulmonic - 2nd - 3rd ICS @ L sternal border

Erb's Point - 3-5th ICS @ L sternal border

Tricuspid - 4th - 5th ICS @ L lower sternal border

Mitral - 5th ICS near L midclavicular line

This pnemonic really helped me out:

All

People

Eat

Turkey

Meat

For the order from right to left and down (Aortic, Pulmonic, Erb's Point, Tricuspic, Mitral)

Good luck!

I stumbled upon this chain looking for a little clarification on the accepted location of the tricuspid area, I learned that it was 4th ICS LSB although in an NCLEX study guide (Kaplan 08-09) it asks the question and lists the answer as 'the tricuspid area is located in the fifth intercostal space at the lower left sternal border' .. I assume that in practice one may not be too concerned with 4th or 5th ICS but they are including it in an old NCLEX review.

+ Join the Discussion