auscultation

(aws-kul-ta's hun). Listening to the sounds made by the thoracic or abdominal viscera, by the contracting muscles, by the blood in the ve els, by the fetus in uiero, or to sounds in any of the other internal parts of the body; employed as a diagnostic method. See also auscultatory percu ion.* imme'diate a., a. by application of the ear to the surface of the body, me'diate a., a. practised by means of a stethoscope, tri'angle of a., see triangle.