Pericardial friction rub is best heard during which cardiac phase?

Pericardial friction rub is best heard during which cardiac phase?

• A. Ventricular filling
• B. Atrial contraction during diastole
• C. Ventricular systole
• D. Isovolumetric relaxation

Answer: (A)

Pericardial friction rub happens when inflamed pericardial surfaces scrape against each other as the heart moves. It is heard best during diastole, when the ventricles are filling and the heart is gliding within the inflamed pericardial sac. The rapid ventricular filling phase in early diastole provides the greatest movement and separation of the pericardial layers, making the friction rub most audible. Among the options, ventricular filling corresponds to this timing, aligning with when the rub is most clearly heard. The other phases involve less relative motion of the ventricles against the pericardium, or occur when a rub is less likely to be heard.

Pericardial friction rub happens when inflamed pericardial surfaces scrape against each other as the heart moves. It is heard best during diastole, when the ventricles are filling and the heart is gliding within the inflamed pericardial sac. The rapid ventricular filling phase in early diastole provides the greatest movement and separation of the pericardial layers, making the friction rub most audible. Among the options, ventricular filling corresponds to this timing, aligning with when the rub is most clearly heard. The other phases involve less relative motion of the ventricles against the pericardium, or occur when a rub is less likely to be heard.