Normal apex beat features
- Site is in 5th left intercostal space 1cm inside the midclavicular line
- It is confined to one intercostal space
- Size of normal apical impulse is 2 cms
- Force and duration of normal apex beat-A gentle nonsustained tap elevating the finger not above the level of ribs and duration less than half of systole.Palpating finger is lifted, but not above the plane of the adjoining ribs.
- Apex beat occur at the end of the isometric contraction phase of cardiac cycle.
