Essential Heart Sounds

Summation Gallop at 120 beats per minute - Auscultation Lesson

When the heart beats very rapidly, as in this recording, the diastolic period is compressed. This results in the third and fourth sounds merging, creating a single loud sound. Use the 'Visual' tab to view an animation of an enlarged left ventricle with decreased left ventricular contractility and a minimally enlarged left atrium.

Listen

The patient's position is supine.

Visualize

Observe

The cardiac animation shows an enlarged left ventricle with decreased left ventricular contractility and a minimally enlarged left atrium.