HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients
Book a video visit
HealthTap
Telehealth
A member asked:

What is the difference between an apical pulse and a point of maximum impulse?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

Med school question: The apical pulse is the heartbeat beat you feel at the apex of your heart (the radial pulse is what you feel on your wrist. The PMI is the area on your chest where you feel the contraction of the heart the strongest (usually below the left nipple.

Answered 2/1/2015

3.3k views

Thank

Related Questions

A member asked:

How can you differentiate the apical pulse from the other heart movements?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Aside from apical pulse. i can feel other pulsation from my chest when lying on left side. pls help me!is this cardiomegaly?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Why is my apical pulse much stronger and almost beating thru my chest when my heart rate is slow? Because when it speeds up like 80 BPM you don't feel it??

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

March 2014 ECG is normal. im afraid i have cardiomegaly. i measured my apical pulse when lying left side think its >3cm in diameter. please help?

4 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

A member asked:

When i listen to my apical pulse i hear gurgling in my heart. It sounds like mt stomach but its in my chest. What does this mean?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

Sponsored Content
HealthTap Medical Group does not endorse products or services. Sponsored content revenues support our mission to make health information free and accessible to all.Learn more

People also searched for:

Can you tell me how is an apical, radial pulse obtained?
What does it mean if a patients apical and radial pulses are very different?
When checking apical pulse how do you make sure you are in the right spot on chest?
Nervous my apical pulse diameter is wider >3cm lying on left ,when calm my apical pulse diameter becomes small <3cm. why?do i have cardiomegaly?
How would you take an apical pulse? I've heard this is the most accurate, but never looked into it, as my doc recommends I take my pulse once a day.

Telemedicine

Primary Care
Manage Your Conditions
Women's Health
Children's Health
Men's Health
Senior Health
Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle
Sexual Health
Mental & Behavioral Health
Travel Medicine
Urgent Care
Ask your question
Didn't find what you're looking for?

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.

Ask your question

More of what we treat

Allergies
Antibiotics
Asthma
High Blood Pressure
Prescriptions
Type 2 Diabetes
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.
HealthTap
HIPAA logo
HIPAASecure
Soc 2 Type 2 logo
SOC 2 Type 2Certified
JCAHO Accredited
JCAHOAccredited
Member App

Download HealthTap

Video visit and message your doctor

Member App QR Code
Play Store Member LinkApp Store Member Link

Questions?

+1 (888) 828-0841support@healthtap.com
LinkedInTwitter
HomeTermsPrivacyCookiesDMCAHealth TopicsDoctors DirectoryDoctor Q&A by Specialty
Copyright 2026 HealthTap, Inc.