| Apex of the heart | |
|---|---|
| Sternocostal surface of heart. (Apex is not labeled, but is visible at bottom right.) | |
| Latin | apex cordis |
| Gray's | subject #138 527 |
The apex of the heart is the lowest superficial part of the heart.
It is directed downward, forward, and to the left, and is overlapped by the left lung and pleura.
It lies behind the fifth left intercostal space, 8 to 9 cm from the mid-sternal line, slightly medial to the midclavicular line.
Alternately, it can be found about 4 cm below and 2 cm to the medial side of the left mammary papilla.
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.
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