MEDICAL BIOLOGY, HUMAN ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY AND PATHOLOGY - Y.I. Fedoniuk 2010

ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, PATHOLOGY

CHAPTER 5. BLOOD AND LYMPH CIRCULATION PROCESSES AND THEIR PATHOLOGY

THE HEART: STRUCTURE, TOPOGRAPHY

2. SURFACE ANATOMY OF THE HEART ON THE ANTERIOR THORACIC WALL

The Heart is located asymmetrically in the anterior Mediastinum: the greater part of it lies to the left of the midline, while only the right atrium and both venae cavae remain on the right.

The Projection of the heart onto the anterior thoracic wall is as follows: its upper border corresponds to the upper margin of the cartilages of the 3rd pair of Ribs; the lower border extends from the upper margin of the Cartilage of the 5th right rib to the apex of the heart; the apex is located in the 5th left intercostal space, 1–2 cm medial to the left midclavicular line; the right border runs 2 cm to the right of the right margin of the Sternum; the left border extends from the cartilage of the 3rd left rib to the apex of the heart (Fig. 5.6).

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Fig. 5.6. Projection of the heart openings, cuspid, and semilunar Valves onto the anterior surface of the chest

The borders of the heart depend on age, sex, body constitution, and medical conditions.

In medical practice, the projection of the heart borders onto the anterior thoracic wall is determined by Percussion (tapping).



Last update: 08/08/2026

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