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Third heart sound (S3 gallop)
System: Heart & Circulation Signs · All heart & circulation signs
What it is — and how it is elicited
An extra low-pitched heart sound in early diastole, just after the second sound, giving a 'galloping' cadence at the apex.
What a positive finding suggests
Associated with heart failure in adults; it can be a normal finding in young people and in pregnancy.
Related signs — Heart & Circulation Signs
Browse the T 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.