The mitral area, also known as the apex beat, is located in the left part of the chest where the heart is located. The word "mitral" is pronounced /ˈmɪtrəl/ with the stress on the first syllable. The first sound in "mitral" is a voiced bilabial stop /m/, followed by the short vowel sound /ɪ/. The latter part of the word has the sound /tr/, which is a voiceless alveolar stop and a voiced alveolar tap respectively. The final syllable is pronounced with an unstressed /əl/ sound.
The mitral area refers to a specific anatomical region of the human body that is primarily associated with the heart. It is located on the chest wall, specifically on the left side, where the lower tip or apex of the heart is situated. The term "mitral" is derived from the Latin word "mitra," meaning headband or mitre, which is a type of ceremonial headdress.
The mitral area is commonly used in clinical settings to aid in the identification and auscultation of specific sounds related to the heart. Healthcare professionals, such as cardiologists and nurses, use a stethoscope to listen for these sounds, which are indicative of its functioning and potential abnormalities. The area is typically marked or palpated in order to accurately place the stethoscope.
The sounds that can be heard in the mitral area include the closing of the mitral valve, which separates the left atrium and left ventricle of the heart. The rhythmic lub-dub sound, also known as the heart's normal or S1 and S2 sounds, can be detected within this area. Any abnormal sounds, variations in intensity, or irregularities may reveal certain cardiac conditions, such as mitral valve prolapse, mitral regurgitation, or other heart diseases.
In summary, the mitral area is a defined region on the left side of the chest where the apex or lower tip of the heart is located. It is used as a landmark for the accurate placement of a stethoscope during auscultation for detecting various heart sounds, including the normal lub-dub sounds or potential abnormalities that may indicate cardiac conditions.
The region of the chest over the apex of the heart, where the sounds, normal or pathological, produced at the left atrioventricular orifice are heard most distinctly.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term "mitral" in "mitral area" comes from the Latin word "mitra", which means "miter" or "head-dress". The mitral valve, found in the heart, resembles a bishop's miter, which led to the use of the term "mitral" to describe it. The "mitral area" refers to the region in the chest where the mitral valve can be auscultated or listened to using a stethoscope.