Final answer:
Auscultation is a diagnostic technique used to listen to a patient's heart sounds using a stethoscope. It helps identify abnormal heart sounds indicating valve or septal disorders. Pulse can be manually palpated or measured using electronic devices.
Step-by-step explanation:
Auscultation is the diagnostic technique used to listen to a patient's heart sounds using a stethoscope. It is commonly employed by clinicians to assess the state of a patient's heart. During auscultation, the clinician places the stethoscope on the patient's antecubital region and listens for the Korotkoff sounds as air gradually escapes the inflatable cuff wrapped around the patient's arm.
By performing auscultation, clinicians can identify abnormal heart sounds that may indicate valve or septal disorders. If a disorder is suspected, further tests such as an echocardiogram may be ordered. Auscultation is a proven, safe, and inexpensive diagnostic tool that has been used for centuries.
Pulse, on the other hand, can be manually palpated by placing the tips of the fingers across a superficial artery. The radial artery in the wrist or the common carotid artery in the neck are commonly used for this purpose. Commercial electronic devices are also available to measure pulse.