Veterinary Clinical Medicine-I (General and Systemic)

HEART-AUSCULTATION

• In cattle, the heart occupies a ventral position in the thoracic cavity between the 3^rd and 6^th pairs of ribs, with its uppermost part about half way up the thorax. The apex of the heart points slightly backwards and to the left, so that about three-fifths of the heart muscle is on the left of the midline and the remainder on the right. Consequently the main site for examining the heart is on the left side, although additional examination on the right side may be required in special cases (anaemia, recurrent fever, etc.) Maximum audibility of cardic valve sounds will be heard in specific area of chest as follows 
  • Right A – V valve : Opposite to the ventral part of the 4^th rib almost 10 cm dorsal to costochondral junction on the right side.
  • Pulmonary valve : Opposite to the 3^rd intercostals space on the left side.
  • Left A – V valve : Opposite to the 4^th rib about 12 cm on the left side above the sternal extremity.
  • Aortic valve : On left side, just below an imaginary horizontal line through the shoulder.
• Cardia auscultation is useful in diagnosing traumatic pericarditis and valvular lesions.