Examination with the help of stethoscope is called:

Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur NO- 2019 (shift 3rd)

Explanation

Auscultation is the specific medical term for listening to the internal sounds of the body.
A stethoscope is the primary instrument used for auscultation to amplify sounds from the heart, lungs, and abdomen.
This technique allows clinicians to detect variations from normal sounds, such as heart murmurs, abnormal breath sounds (like crackles or wheezes), or hyperactive/hypoactive bowel sounds.

Option A: Palpation involves using the sense of touch (hands and fingers) to assess characteristics like temperature, texture, tenderness, and masses. It does not involve listening or using a stethoscope.
Option B: Percussion is the technique of tapping on the body's surface to produce sounds that help determine the density of the underlying tissues (e.g., air-filled, fluid-filled, or solid). It does not use a stethoscope.
Option C: Manipulation refers to the therapeutic or diagnostic movement of a body part, typically a joint, to assess its range of motion or to provide treatment. It is a form of manual therapy, not an assessment technique involving a stethoscope.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Physical Assessment Techniques as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Mastery of all four physical assessment techniques is fundamental for a nurse to conduct a thorough head-to-toe assessment and gather objective data about a patient's health status.
Accurate auscultation is critical for identifying life-threatening conditions such as abnormal heart rhythms, fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), or a paralytic ileus (absent bowel sounds).
What if? If assessing the abdomen, the standard order of techniques changes to Inspection, Auscultation, Percussion, then Palpation. This is because palpating or percussing the abdomen first can alter bowel sounds, leading to an inaccurate auscultatory assessment.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of basic medical terminology.
Identify the key term in the question stem: 'stethoscope'.
Recall the four primary physical assessment techniques: inspection (seeing), palpation (touching), percussion (tapping), and auscultation (listening).
Connect the instrument 'stethoscope' with its function, which is to 'listen' to internal body sounds.
Select the option that means 'to listen', which is Auscultation.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Potter Perry 12e Part 3 pp. 64-66, 65-67

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 381-383

Practise the full AIIMS Raipur NO- 2019 (shift 3rd)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.