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Expansion

Working across and down the praecordium:

• A - Aortic: second intercostal space, right sternal edge
• P - Pulmonary: second intercostal space, left sternal edge
• T - Tricuspid: fourth or fifth intercostal space, left sternal edge
• M - Mitral: fifth intercostal space, mid-clavicular line (the apex)

The valves themselves sit close together behind the sternum, roughly along a line from the third left costal cartilage to the sixth right costal cartilage. The listening posts are placed where the turbulent blood is projected, which is why the aortic area is on the right despite the aortic valve lying to the left of the midline.