auscultus
Auscultus, from the Latin auscultare meaning "to listen," refers to the medical practice of listening to the internal sounds of the body to aid diagnosis. It is most commonly performed with a stethoscope, though careful auscultation may also be described without instruments in some contexts.
The modern technique began with René Laennec, who invented the stethoscope in 1816. Before then physicians
Technique and sites: The clinician places the stethoscope on predefined chest, back, and abdominal regions, listening
Common findings: Normal heart sounds are S1 and S2. Abnormal cardiac sounds include murmurs, clicks, and gallops
Clinical value and limitations: Auscultation guides diagnosis and testing, but its accuracy depends on clinician experience
Etymology and terminology: Auscultus is Latin for listening; auscultation denotes the practice of listening to body