ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Where is the apical pulse located? Your apical pulse is located above the apex of your heart. Your apex is the tip of your left ventricle that points downward in the left side of your chest. If you have dextrocardia, meaning your heart is flipped from left to right, then your heart’s apex is on your right side.

Detailed explanation-2: -A pulse may also be felt directly over the heart on the left side of the casualty’s chest. This pulse is called the apical pulse.

Detailed explanation-3: -The apical pulse is a pulse site on the left side of the chest over the pointed end, or apex, of the heart. A doctor might palpate or listen to the apical pulse when evaluating a person’s heart health. The pulse, or heart rate, is an important indicator of health.

Detailed explanation-4: -Apical pulse rate is indicated during some assessments, such as when conducting a cardiovascular assessment and when a client is taking certain cardiac medications (e.g., digoxin) (OER #1). Sometime the apical pulse is auscultated pre and post medication administration.