CEA Nursing Practice Exam

Where is the point of maximum impulse (PMI) most commonly located in healthy adults?

1. Left 2nd intercostal space, midaxillary line.

2. Left 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line.

3. Right 4th intercostal space, midaxillary line.

4. Right 2nd intercostal space, midclavicular line.

The correct answer is: Left 5th intercostal space, midclavicular line.

In healthy adults, the point of maximum impulse (PMI) is most commonly found at the left 5th intercostal space, specifically at the midclavicular line. The PMI represents the apex of the heart where the heart's contractions are felt most strongly against the chest wall. This location corresponds to the position of the left ventricle, which is the chamber responsible for pumping blood to the rest of the body. The left 5th intercostal space at the midclavicular line is typically where clinicians would place their fingers to palpate this impulse during a physical examination. Identifying the PMI is an essential skill in auscultation and physical assessment, as it aids in assessing the size and position of the heart and can indicate underlying cardiac conditions if displaced or altered. In contrast, the other locations mentioned do not correspond to the standard anatomical location of the heart's apex in adults.