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apex beat| The part of the heartbeat that can be felt most strongly through the chest wall upon each contraction. |
| It is usually found on the left side of the chest, 2–3 cm/11/12–13/12 in below the nipple, although it shifts with changes in body position and breathing. The position and quality of the apex beat provide information about the condition of the heart. |
| It can also, indirectly, give information about the state of the lungs: for example, if a long-standing disease has caused one lung to shrink, the apex beat will shift towards that lung. |
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