noun
auscultation
aw-skul-TAY-shun/ˌɔːskəlˈteɪʃn/
Listening to sounds inside the body as part of a medical examination.
The clinician performs auscultation with a stethoscope against the patient's upper back.
Etymology
From “listen attentively,” auscultation first meant the act of listening in general. Its medical sense narrows that action to listening to sounds inside the body, usually through a stethoscope.
In context
the stethoscope on your chest and I'm going to first listen to the lungs I'll listen to the vocal resonance we'll listen to your heart okay lots and lots of auscultation going on here
More examples
- Careful auscultation revealed an unusual heart sound.
- The students practiced auscultation under their instructor's supervision.
- The examination included auscultation of the lungs.
Similar words
- listening
- Is the ordinary general action, without specifying a medical examination.
- palpation
- Examines the body through touch rather than listening.