auscultation

aus·cul·ta·tion

noun \ˌȯ-skəl-ˈtā-shən\

Definition of AUSCULTATION

: the act of listening to sounds arising within organs (as the lungs) as an aid to diagnosis and treatment

Origin of AUSCULTATION

Latin auscultation-, auscultatio act of listening, from auscultare to listen; akin to Latin auris ear — more at ear

First Known Use: 1821

aus·cul·ta·tion

noun \ˌȯ-skəl-ˈtā-shən\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of AUSCULTATION

: the act of listening to sounds arising within organs (as the lungs or heart) as an aid to diagnosis and treatment

auscultation

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Procedure for detecting certain defects or conditions by listening for normal and abnormal heart, breath, bowel, fetal, and other sounds in the body. The invention of the stethoscope in 1819 improved and expanded this practice, still very useful despite the great technological advances in other means of diagnosis.