Auscultation is the technical term for listening to the internal sounds of the body, usually using a stethoscope. Auscultation is normally performed for the purposes of examining the circulatory system and respiratory system (heart sounds and breath sounds), as well as the gastrointestinal system (bowel sounds). Stethoscope The stethoscope (Greek στηθοσκόπιο, of στήθος, stéthos - chest and σκοπή, skopé - examination) is an acoustic medical device for auscultation, or listening, to internal sounds in a human or animal body. ... Diagram of the human circulatory system. ... The Respiratory System Among four-legged animals, the respiratory system generally includes tubes, such as the bronchi, used to carry air to the lungs, where gas exchange takes place. ... Front of thorax, showing surface relations of bones, lungs (purple), pleura (blue), and heart (red outline). ... Breath sounds refer to the specific sounds identified through auscultation of the respiratory system with a stethescope. ... For the Physics term GUT, please refer to Grand unification theory The gastrointestinal or digestive tract, also referred to as the GI tract or the alimentary canal or the gut, is the system of organs within multicellular animals which takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and...

The technical term was invented by René-Théophile-Hyacinthe Laënnec, a French physician. It is based on the Latin verb auscultare "to listen". However the act of listening to body sounds for diagnostic purposes has its origin further back in history, possibly as early as Ancient Egypt. Laënnec's contribution was to document formally the procedure and relevant findings in his book "De l'auscultation médiate", published in 1819. Laënnec's contribution to the field went further, not only documenting clinical findings, but inventing the requisite device in the form of the first stethoscope, a wooden trumpet that allowed him to listen to female patients without having to place his ears to their breasts. René-Théophile-Hyacinthe Laennec (February 17, 1781- August 13, 1826), French physician; inventor of the stethoscope. ... The Doctor by Luke Fildes This article is about the term physician, one type of doctor; for other uses of the word doctor see Doctor. ...

Auscultation is a skill that requires substantial clinical experience, and good listening skills. Heart sounds are faint only because most acoustic stethoscopes leaks. Electronic stethoscopes have been around since 1960,-one by Francis Andries flew on the Space Shuttle in 1970's and was used to record many of the real heart sounds used for on line self teaching by Andries Auscultation with different levels of training, "Auscultation of the Heart- Level One", 258 real heart sounds by W. Proctor Harvey, M.D. and interactive instuctions by John Micheal Criley, M.D. at www.andries.com. Some more recent ones by Thinklabs, Welch Allyn, 3M, and others have become available, making heart and lung sounds seem more audible to the clinician, but really make them only louder. The electronic stethoscope also allows for recording of sounds and transmission for the purposes of telemedicine, or remote diagnosis. Thinklabs uses a novel electronic diaphragm detection system to convert sounds into electronic signals. Welch-Allyn uses a piezo-electric sensor on a metal shaft inside the chestpiece; while 3M uses a conventional microphone. These advances are likely to ensure that auscultation remains a primary screening tool for clinicians, as a precursor to more costly tests such as ultrasound. 3M Company (NYSE: MMM), formerly Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company until 2002, is an American corporation with a worldwide presence. ... Telemedicine may be as simple as two health professionals discussing a case over the telephone, or as complex as using satellite technology and video-conferencing equipment to conduct a real-time consultation between medical specialists in two different countries. ... peizo This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Medical ultrasonography (sonography) is an ultrasound-based diagnostic imaging technique used to visualize muscles and internal organs, their size, structures and possible pathologies or lesions. ...

Doctors listen to three main organs/ organ systems during auscultation: the heart, lungs, and the gastrointestinal system. When auscultating the heart, doctors listen for abnormal sounds including heart murmurs, gallops, and other extra sounds coinciding with heartbeats. Heart rate is also noted. When listening to lungs, breath sounds such as wheezes and crackles are identified. The gastrointestinal system is auscultated to note the presence of bowel sounds. The heart and lungs, from an older edition of Greys Anatomy. ... The heart and lungs (from an older edition of Grays Anatomy) The lung is an organ belonging to the respiratory system and interfacing to the circulatory system of air-breathing vertebrates. ... For the Physics term GUT, please refer to Grand unification theory The gastrointestinal or digestive tract, also referred to as the GI tract or the alimentary canal or the gut, is the system of organs within multicellular animals which takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and... Murmurs are abnormal heart sounds that are produced as a result of turbulent blood flow, which is sufficient to produce audible noise. ... Heart rate is a term used to describe the frequency of the cardiac cycle. ... A wheeze is a continuous, coarse, whistling sound produced in the respiratory airways during breathing. ... For the Physics term GUT, please refer to Grand unification theory The gastrointestinal or digestive tract, also referred to as the GI tract or the alimentary canal or the gut, is the system of organs within multicellular animals which takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and...

Learning the accurate and reliable interpretation of auscultation findings has been improved by recent technological advances. There is a web site, www.andries.com with sample heart sounds and on line self teaching, the Auscultation Assistant[1], "provides heart sounds, heart murmurs, and breath sounds in order to help medical students and others improve their physical diagnosis skills".

See also

• Pericardial rub
• Heart sounds
• Breath sounds
• Triangle of auscultation

In medicine, a pericardial friction rub, also pericardial rub, is a sign on the precordial exam, detected by auscultation, that suggests irritation of the pericardium and the diagnosis of pericarditis. ... Front of thorax, showing surface relations of bones, lungs (purple), pleura (blue), and heart (red outline). ... Breath sounds refer to the specific sounds identified through auscultation of the respiratory system with a stethescope. ... The triangle of ausculation is situated behind the scapula. ...

External links

• Interesting Heart Sounds