Category:Auscultation

Aus`cul*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. ausculcatio, fr. auscultare to listen, fr. a dim. of auris, orig. ausis, ear. See Auricle, and cf. Scout, n.]

1. The act of listening or hearkening to. Hickes.

2. (Med.)

Defn: An examination by listening either directly with the ear (immediate auscultation) applied to parts of the body, as the abdomen; or with the stethoscope (mediate ~), in order to distinguish sounds recognized as a sign of health or of disease.