In an adult, the apical impulse should be most visible when the patient is in which position?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In most adults, the apical impulse should be visible at about the midclavicular line in the fifth left intercostal space, but is easily obscured by obesity, large breasts, or muscularity. The apical impulse may become visible only when the patient sits upright and the heart is brought closer to the anterior wall. A visible and palpable impulse when the patient is supine suggests an intensity that may be the result of a problem.

In an Adult, the Apical Impulse Should Be Most Visible