👉 In medical terminology, "auscultation" refers to the process of listening to the sounds produced by a patient during their breathing. This is commonly referred to as the breath sound examination or simply as auscultation. During auscultation, a healthcare provider listens for different types of sounds in the lungs and heart that can indicate various conditions including respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, lung infections, and heart disease. It's an important part of medical diagnosis and treatment planning.