What is the term for the act of listening to internal sounds of the body to aid in diagnosis?

The act of listening to internal sounds of the body to aid in diagnosis is known as auscultation. This technique is commonly employed in clinical settings using a stethoscope to examine sounds produced by the heart, lungs, and other organs. Auscultation allows healthcare providers to gather critical information regarding a patient’s health status by analyzing normal versus abnormal sounds. For instance, abnormal lung sounds such as wheezes can indicate respiratory issues, while heart murmurs can suggest cardiovascular problems.

The other terms refer to different examination techniques: percussion involves tapping on the body to assess the underlying structure or fluid presence, inspection is the visual examination of the patient, and palpation entails feeling the body with the hands to detect abnormalities in texture, temperature, or pulse. Each method provides unique insights, but auscultation specifically focuses on auditory information as a diagnostic tool.