OverviewWhat is auscultation?The medical definition of auscultation is listening to the sounds of your heart, lungs, arteries and belly (abdomen). Your healthcare provider will usually use a stethoscope to listen to the sounds of your body. They’ll place the stethoscope directly onto your chest, back and abdomen. They’ll listen for different sounds, quality, volume, timing and more. Show
Auscultation is a safe and easy way to diagnose potential medical conditions. It’s noninvasive and one of the oldest techniques healthcare providers use today. What is a stethoscope?A stethoscope is a tool used for listening to the sounds of your body. French physician René Laennec invented the instrument in 1816. A stethoscope has a bell and a diaphragm. Your healthcare provider will use the bell to hear low-pitched sounds. They’ll use the diaphragm to hear high-pitched sounds. The bell and diaphragm are connected by rubber tubes to earpieces that your healthcare provider places in their ears. When is auscultation performed?Your healthcare provider uses auscultation during routine physical examinations. They want to check the sounds of your circulatory system, respiratory system and gastrointestinal system. They’ll use auscultation to confirm or rule out various medical conditions. Test DetailsDuring auscultation, your healthcare provider may listen to your heart, abdomen, lungs and arteries.What are the different types of auscultation?Your healthcare provider may perform a heart auscultation, a lung auscultation, arteries auscultation or an abdominal auscultation. Heart auscultationYour healthcare provider will listen to the sounds your heart makes through a heart or cardiac auscultation. To auscultate your heart, they’ll usually have you sit up or lay comfortably at a 45-degree angle. They may ask you to turn toward your left side or position you in another way to hear your heart clearly. Your healthcare provider will place a stethoscope on your chest to listen to your heart sounds. They’ll move the stethoscope to the four areas of your chest where they can hear your heart valve sounds the best. These heart auscultation points are all in your upper left chest area. Your healthcare provider will listen for:
Lung auscultationYour healthcare provider will listen to the sounds your lungs make through a lung auscultation. To auscultate your lungs, they’ll have you sit upright. You’ll be asked to take deep breaths through your mouth. Your healthcare provider will first place a stethoscope on your chest. They’ll move the stethoscope to different auscultation points on your chest. They’ll start at the top of your lungs and move downward. They’ll compare the sounds of each lung. Then your healthcare provider will place the stethoscope on your back. They’ll again start at the top and work their way down, going from side to side. They’ll listen to one complete breath cycle at each auscultation site. They’ll compare the sounds they hear between the front and back of your lungs. Your healthcare provider will listen for:
Arteries auscultationYour healthcare provider can also listen to arteries of your neck, abdomen and kidneys if necessary. Your healthcare provider will listen for:
Abdominal auscultationYour health provider will listen to the sounds your intestines make through an abdominal auscultation. To auscultate your abdomen, they’ll have you lay down comfortably on your back. Your head will be propped up on a pillow. You may have a positioner placed under your knees for comfort. Your healthcare provider will place a stethoscope on your abdomen. They'll move the stethoscope over different regions of your abdomen to listen to the sounds your bowels make. Your healthcare provider will be listening for:
Results and Follow-UpWhat do the results of auscultations mean?Your healthcare provider will hear different sounds during a heart auscultation, a lung auscultation, arteries auscultation and an abdominal auscultation. Heart auscultationNormal heart sounds have a steady, two-beat rhythm to them. The first sound is called S1, or a lub. The second sound is called S2, or a dub. Your healthcare provider can hear these sounds when your heart valves are closing. Your healthcare provider may hear various abnormal sounds in your heart:
Lung auscultationThe different auscultation points of your lungs produce different normal sounds. But typically normal lung sounds are soft and hollow. They can be heard clearly when you inhale. Your healthcare provider may hear various abnormal sounds:
Abdominal auscultationNormal bowel sounds make a low-pitched gurgling noise. The noise occurs every five to 10 seconds as your intestines push food through your system. This means your gastrointestinal tract is functioning properly. Your healthcare provider will auscultate your abdomen to check for any abnormal sounds:
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the triangle of auscultation?The triangle of auscultation is a small region on your back where three back muscles meet. These muscles are the trapezius, latissimus dorsi and scapula. When you cross your arms and lean forward, these muscles thin out and the triangle of auscultation is better exposed. Your healthcare provider can hear your lung sounds more clearly when they place a stethoscope on this area. A note from Cleveland Clinic Your healthcare provider uses auscultation to listen to your heart, lung, arteries and abdominal sounds. Auscultation is a tool they can use to make sure you’re healthy and/or figure out what’s going on inside your body. Depending on what they hear, you may need additional tests. Auscultation is a great way to give your healthcare provider a basic idea of your health status and whether or not you need further treatment. Why would a nurse use the bell of the stethoscope?The stethoscope has two different heads to receive sound, the bell and the diaphragm. The bell is used to detect low-frequency sounds and the diaphragm to detect high-frequency sounds.
When should the nurse use the bell of the stethoscope?To perform auscultation, you need a high-quality stethoscope. See Figure 1.10 for an acoustic stethoscope with a separate diaphragm on one side and a bell on the other side. The diaphragm is used for auscultating high-pitched sounds, while the bell is used for auscultating low-pitched sounds.
Why would the nurse use the bell of the stethoscope when listening to the abdomen quizlet?The diaphragm of the stethoscope is sensitive in picking up high-pitched sounds of the abdomen. The bell of the stethoscope is sensitive in detecting low-pitched sounds like heart murmurs. The interface of the bell and the diaphragm is less useful for clinical assessment.
What part of the stethoscope is used for bowel sounds?Place the diaphragm of your stethoscope lightly over the right lower quadrant and listen for bowel sounds. If you don't hear any, continue listening for 5 minutes within that quadrant.
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