auscultation

[ aw-skuhl-tey-shuhn ]

noun

1. Medicine/Medical. the act of listening, either directly or through a stethoscope or other instrument, to sounds within the body as a method of diagnosis.

auscultation

/ ˈɔːskəlˌteɪtɪv; ˌɔːskəlˈteɪʃən; ɔːˈskʌltətərɪ; ɔːˈskʌltətɪv /

noun

1. the diagnostic technique in medicine of listening to the various internal sounds made by the body, usually with the aid of a stethoscope
2. the act of listening

Derived Forms

• auscultatory, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of auscultation¹

First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin auscultātiōn- (stem of auscultātiō ) “a listening, attending to,” equivalent to auscultāt(us) “listened to” (past participle of auscultāre, equivalent to aus-, a variant stem of auris “ear” + -cultā- of uncertain origin and sense) + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn-; -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of auscultation¹

C19: from Latin auscultātiō a listening, from auscultāre to listen attentively; related to Latin auris ear

Example Sentences

The patient declined to undergo auscultation.

From Literature

Too many physicians either omit physical examination of their patients or do not perform the simplest of exams correctly, e.g., auscultation may be done while the patient is still dressed in street clothes; it may be done quickly and haphazardly without comparison of the lung fields; and percussion, which could help with the diagnosis of pneumothorax, is looked upon with scorn.

From New York Times

In fact, Laennec was motivated to improvise a new auscultation method when a stout female patient came to him with heart palpitations.

From Washington Post

Besides diminishing the personal nature of the practice of medicine, the loss of the skill of cardiac auscultation takes some of the pleasure out of the intellectual aspect of the profession.

From Washington Post

Now the cycle is repeating itself: Young physicians have fewer mentors who can pass on the skill of auscultation.

From Washington Post