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Displaced apex beat
System: Heart & Circulation Signs · All heart & circulation signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
The heart's apical impulse is felt further out and lower than the usual position (fifth intercostal space, mid-clavicular line).
What a positive finding suggests
Lateral displacement is associated with enlargement of the left ventricle; a heaving quality is associated with pressure overload.
Related signs — Heart & Circulation Signs
Browse the D section of the A–Z list or return to the Clinical Signs hub.
Please note: This page is an educational reference about clinical examination signs. A clinical sign supports — and never replaces — a full clinical evaluation, examination and appropriate testing. A sign being present does not by itself prove a diagnosis, and an absent sign does not rule one out. If you have symptoms that worry you, see a health professional.