Auscultation in Primary Care

Third Heart Sound Gallop C31 | Auscultation #75 | Lesson with Audio

patient thorax when auscultating by stethoscope

The patient was supine during auscultation.

Description

A third heart sound occurs early in diastole. In young people and athletes it is a normal phenomenon. In older individuals it indicates the presence of congestive heart failure. The third heart sound is caused by a sudden deceleration of blood flow into the left ventricle from the left atrium. In the anatomy video you will see a thin-walled, dilated left ventricle with generalized decreased vigor of contraction. In the presence of a third heart sound (S3) the first heart sound is decreased in intensity while the second heart sound is increased in intensity. The third heart sound is a low frequency sound best heard with the bell of the stethoscope pressed lightly on the skin of the chest.

Phonocardiogram

Anatomy

Third Heart Sound Gallop C31

Authors and Sources

Authors and Reviewers

Heart sounds by Dr. Jonathan Keroes, MD and David Lieberman, Developer, Virtual Cardiac Patient.
Lung sounds by Diane Wrigley, PA
Respiratory cases: William French
David Lieberman, Audio Engineering
Heart sounds mentorship by W. Proctor Harvey, MD
Special thanks for the medical mentorship of Dr. Raymond Murphy
Reviewed by Dr. Barbara Erickson, PhD, RN, CCRN.
Last Update: 11/10/2021

Sources

Heart and Lung Sounds Reference Library Diane S. Wrigley
Publisher: PESI
Impact Patient Care: Key Physical Assessment Strategies and the Underlying Pathophysiology
Diane S Wrigley & Rosale Lobo
Practical Clinical Skills: Lung Sounds
Essential Lung Sounds Diane S. Wrigley, PA-C
Published by MedEdu LLC
PESI Faculty - Diane S Wrigley
Case Profiles in Respiratory Care 3rd Ed, 2019
William A.French
Published by Delmar Cengage
Essential Lung Sounds by William A. French
Published by Cengage Learning, 2011
Understanding Lung Sounds Steven Lehrer, MD
Clinical Heart Disease W Proctor Harvey, MD
Clinical Heart Disease
Laennec Publishing; 1st edition (January 1, 2009)
Heart and Lung Sounds Reference Guide
PracticalClinicalSkills.com