Cardiac Examination
Cardiac Examination - Related Videos
10:22
Echocardiographic and Histological Examination of Cardiac Morphology in the Mouse
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Cited by 29 •
2017
Echocardiographic examination is frequently used in mice. Expensive high-resolution ultrasound devices have been developed for this purpose. This protocol describes an affordable echocardiographic procedure combined with histological morphometric analyses to determine cardiac morphology.
07:39
Cardiac Exam I: Inspection and Palpation
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2023
Source: Suneel Dhand, MD, Attending Physician, Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center The cardiac assessment is one of the core examinations performed by almost every physician whenever encountering a patient. Disorders of the cardiac system are among the most common reasons for hospital admission, with conditions ranging from myocardial infarction to congestive heart failure. Learning a complete and thorough cardiac examination is therefore crucial for any practicing physician.
07:44
Ophthalmoscopic Examination
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2023
Source: Richard Glickman-Simon, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, MA The simplest ophthalmoscopes consist of an aperture to look through, a diopter indicator, and a disc for selecting lenses. The ophthalmoscope is primarily used to examine the fundus, or the inner wall of the posterior eye, which consists of the choroid, retina, fovea, macula, optic disc, and retinal vessels (Figure 1). The spherical eyeball...
06:24
Cardiac Exam II: Auscultation
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2023
Source: Suneel Dhand, MD, Attending Physician, Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Proficiency in the use of a stethoscope to listen to heart sounds and the ability to differentiate between normal and abnormal heart sounds are essential skills for any physician. Correct placement of the stethoscope on the chest corresponds to the sound of cardiac valves closing. The heart has two main sounds: S1 and S2. The first heart sound (S1) occurs as the mitral and tricuspid valves...
08:25
Visualization of Streptococcus pneumoniae within Cardiac Microlesions and Subsequent Cardiac Remodeling
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Cited by 11 •
2015
Streptococcus pneumoniae forms discrete non-purulent microscopic lesions in the heart. Outlined is the protocol for a murine model of cardiac microlesion formation. Instruction is provided on microlesion visualization using microscopy, discrimination between early and late microlesions, and methods to detect cardiac remodeling in hearts of convalescent animals.
FAQs
Its value comes from combining findings rather than relying on a single sign. Observation, vital-sign measurement, palpation, and auscultation examine different aspects of cardiac function and circulation. Interpreting them together with symptoms and medical history helps clinicians recognize patterns suggesting heart failure, valvular disease, arrhythmias, congenital abnormalities, or altered blood flow.
Palpation adds a hands-on assessment of the precordium and peripheral pulses, complementing what clinicians observe and hear. Changes detected through these sites can contribute to recognizing altered blood flow or abnormal cardiac function. Because findings are interpreted with symptoms, history, and the rest of the examination, palpation helps determine whether further evaluation is warranted.
Auscultation focuses attention on heart sounds, murmurs, and rhythm, giving the clinician a way to assess audible features of cardiac activity. These findings can provide clues to valvular disease or arrhythmias and may support recognition of abnormal blood flow. Their significance depends on the broader clinical picture rather than on an isolated sound.
A cardiac examination includes observation of the patient, measurement of vital signs, palpation of the precordium and peripheral pulses, and auscultation. The clinician integrates these observations with symptoms and medical history. This structured approach organizes the assessment and creates a clinical picture before deciding whether investigations such as electrocardiography or echocardiography are needed.
It is useful when clinicians need initial evidence about cardiac function, circulation, or possible disease, and when they need a baseline for later comparison. Findings may raise concern for heart failure, valvular disease, arrhythmias, congenital abnormalities, or altered blood flow. The examination guides further evaluation rather than replacing investigations that may be indicated.
Cardiac examination supplies clinical findings that can indicate the need for electrocardiography or echocardiography. In this role, it provides an initial assessment before more focused investigation, while documented baseline findings support monitoring over time. Interpretation remains linked to symptoms and medical history, allowing clinicians to place test decisions within the patient’s broader clinical context.