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Nurs 612 Physical Assessment Final Exam
Terms Questions and Correct Answers/
Latest Update / Already Graded
What are the four basic heart sounds?
Ans: S1, S2, S3, and S4
Where is it best to auscultate the Aortic Valve?
Ans: Second intercostal space at the right sternal border.
Where is it best to auscultate the Pulmonic Valve?
Ans: Second intercostal space at the left sternal border.
Where is it best to auscultate the Mitral Valve?
Ans: At the APEX of the heart, Left intercostal space, mid
clavicular line.
Where is it best to auscultate the Tricuspid Valve?
Ans: Fourth Intercostal space at the left sternal border.
What is "Erb's Point"?
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Ans: Third left intercostal space left of sternum, mid clavicular
line. This is where S1 and S2 can both be auscultated.
What is S1 and where is it best heard?
Ans: S1 is the closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves (AV)
during early systole, and is best heard toward the apex of the
heart.
What is S2 and where is it best heard?
Ans: S2 is closure of the aortic and pulmonic valves (semi lunar
valves) during late systole, and is best heard in the tricuspid
area (4th intercostal space to the left of the sternal border)
What is S3, where is it heard and what does it represent?
Ans: S3 represents passive flow of blood from the atria against
a distended or non-compliant ventricles during early to mid-
diastole. It is best heard over the apex of the heart with the
BELL of the stethoscope (sometimes with the patient in the left
lateral recumbent position) and is usually very to hear. It may
sound like the word Ken-TUCK-y with a "gallop" Can be
associated with High Cardiac Output patients (septic, athletes,
pregnancies) ischemic CM, Hyperthyroidism, and anemia
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What is S4, where is it heard and what does it represent?
Ans: S4 represents more vigorous flow of blood through the
atria into the ventricles which cannot expand any further during
late diastole and early systole. It is best heard over the apex of
the heart with the BELL of the stethoscope (someti mes with the
patient in the left lateral recumbent positions). Can be
associated with LVH or RVH, AS, pulmonary HTN and Stenosis
of any of the valves.
What is a Split S1?
Ans: May occur in RBBB and with PVC's
What is Fixed Splitting of S1?
Ans: May occur with ASD and RV failure
What is Wide Splitting of S2?
Ans: Is associated with delayed closure of the Pulmonic valve
and may indicated pulmonic stenosis and RBBB or by early
closure of the Aortic valve in mitral regurgitation.
Paradoxical Splitting of S2?
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Ans: Occurs only on expiration and is associated with delayed
closure of the aortic vales, usually as a result of LBBB.
What is meant by a Physiologic S3?
Ans: Usually confined to children, young adults and pregnant
women as a result of rapid early ventricular filling. It is low
pitched and is best heard with the BELL of the stethoscope at
the apex or the left sternal border.
What is meant by a Pathologic S3?
Ans: Also called a VENTRICULAR GALLOP, is heard in adults
with decreased cardiac contractility, HF. It is the same as a
physiologic S3 but has pathologic basis.
What is an Opening Snap?
Ans: This is caused by a stenotic mitral or tricuspid valve and is
heard in early diastole along the lower left sternal border. Best
heard with the diaphragm of stethoscope.
What is a Heart Murmur?
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
Nurs 612 Physical Assessment Final Exam
Terms Questions and Correct Answers/
Latest Update / Already Graded
What are the four basic heart sounds?
Ans: S1, S2, S3, and S4
Where is it best to auscultate the Aortic Valve?
Ans: Second intercostal space at the right sternal border.
Where is it best to auscultate the Pulmonic Valve?
Ans: Second intercostal space at the left sternal border.
Where is it best to auscultate the Mitral Valve?
Ans: At the APEX of the heart, Left intercostal space, mid
clavicular line.
Where is it best to auscultate the Tricuspid Valve?
Ans: Fourth Intercostal space at the left sternal border.
What is "Erb's Point"?
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |2
Ans: Third left intercostal space left of sternum, mid clavicular
line. This is where S1 and S2 can both be auscultated.
What is S1 and where is it best heard?
Ans: S1 is the closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves (AV)
during early systole, and is best heard toward the apex of the
heart.
What is S2 and where is it best heard?
Ans: S2 is closure of the aortic and pulmonic valves (semi lunar
valves) during late systole, and is best heard in the tricuspid
area (4th intercostal space to the left of the sternal border)
What is S3, where is it heard and what does it represent?
Ans: S3 represents passive flow of blood from the atria against
a distended or non-compliant ventricles during early to mid-
diastole. It is best heard over the apex of the heart with the
BELL of the stethoscope (sometimes with the patient in the left
lateral recumbent position) and is usually very to hear. It may
sound like the word Ken-TUCK-y with a "gallop" Can be
associated with High Cardiac Output patients (septic, athletes,
pregnancies) ischemic CM, Hyperthyroidism, and anemia
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |3
What is S4, where is it heard and what does it represent?
Ans: S4 represents more vigorous flow of blood through the
atria into the ventricles which cannot expand any further during
late diastole and early systole. It is best heard over the apex of
the heart with the BELL of the stethoscope (someti mes with the
patient in the left lateral recumbent positions). Can be
associated with LVH or RVH, AS, pulmonary HTN and Stenosis
of any of the valves.
What is a Split S1?
Ans: May occur in RBBB and with PVC's
What is Fixed Splitting of S1?
Ans: May occur with ASD and RV failure
What is Wide Splitting of S2?
Ans: Is associated with delayed closure of the Pulmonic valve
and may indicated pulmonic stenosis and RBBB or by early
closure of the Aortic valve in mitral regurgitation.
Paradoxical Splitting of S2?
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |4
Ans: Occurs only on expiration and is associated with delayed
closure of the aortic vales, usually as a result of LBBB.
What is meant by a Physiologic S3?
Ans: Usually confined to children, young adults and pregnant
women as a result of rapid early ventricular filling. It is low
pitched and is best heard with the BELL of the stethoscope at
the apex or the left sternal border.
What is meant by a Pathologic S3?
Ans: Also called a VENTRICULAR GALLOP, is heard in adults
with decreased cardiac contractility, HF. It is the same as a
physiologic S3 but has pathologic basis.
What is an Opening Snap?
Ans: This is caused by a stenotic mitral or tricuspid valve and is
heard in early diastole along the lower left sternal border. Best
heard with the diaphragm of stethoscope.
What is a Heart Murmur?
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