Herzgegend

Herzgegend is the German term for the region of the chest that overlies the heart. In medical anatomy it corresponds to the precordial region (Präcordialregion) of the anterior thorax.

Location and boundaries

The Herzgegend lies on the front of the chest, centered around the sternum and extending toward the left side. It includes the area over the heart within the mediastinum, with the upper boundary near the second intercostal space and the lower boundary around the sixth intercostal space. Laterally it is delimited by the left and right parasternal and anterior axillary lines. The heart itself sits mostly behind the lower part of the sternum and the left side of the chest.

Contents and relation to surrounding structures

The Herzgegend primarily overlies the heart and portions of the great vessels as they emerge from the heart. It does not encompass the entire surface of the heart, which has a curved, irregular outline across the chest. The region also is involved in clinical assessments, such as the placement of stethoscope for auscultation of heart sounds and murmurs.

Clinical significance

Pain, discomfort, or electrocardiographic changes in the Herzgegend can indicate a range of cardiac or cardiopulmonary conditions, including angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, pericarditis, or other thoracic disorders. The standard auscultation and examination of the heart involve specific points on the chest wall within or adjacent to the Herzgegend, corresponding to the aortic, pulmonic, tricuspid, and mitral areas.

See also

Heart, Thorax, Precordial region, Mediastinum.