What technique is used to listen to heart and lung sounds?

The technique used to listen to heart and lung sounds is auscultation. This method involves using a stethoscope to amplify the sounds produced by the heart, lungs, and other organs, allowing the practitioner to assess their function and identify any abnormalities.

During auscultation, healthcare professionals listen for specific sounds, such as heartbeats, breath sounds, or abnormal sounds like wheezes or crackles. These sounds provide critical information regarding a patient's cardiovascular and respiratory health, helping practitioners make informed decisions about diagnosis and treatment.

The other techniques you mentioned, such as percussion, palpation, and inspection, serve different purposes in physical examinations. Percussion involves tapping on the body to assess underlying structures based on the sound produced, palpation refers to using the hands to feel for abnormalities in organs or tissues, and inspection is the visual examination of the body for any physical signs of disease. While all these techniques are important in a comprehensive assessment, they do not involve listening to internal sounds in the same way that auscultation does.