Auscultation

Aus·cul·ta·tion

Auscultation

n.
  1. The act of listening or hearkening to.
  2. 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 auscultation), in order to distinguish sounds recognized as a sign of health or of disease. (Med.)