CA
A 28-year-old male asked:
What is the definition or description of: bruit?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Alon Gitiganswered
Cardiology 21 years experience
A sound blood makes: Bruit refers to a sound, heard via a stethoscope, of blood when it flows through a narrowed opening. As blood flows through a narrow diameter within a vessel, the velocity of flow increases and also becomes more turbulent.
The importance of this sound is that, if your doctor hears it, it can signify underlying atherosclerosis--i.e. Build-up of plaque--narrowing an artery.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Otto Placikanswered
Surgery - Plastics 35 years experience
Constructed flow: A bruit is the sound blood makes when it passes through a narrowing not unlike a wind passing through a narrow canyon. Although it may occur nearly anywhere in the body, it is typically used to refer to a narrowing of the carotid or neck arteries and implies there may be a narrowing which may be predictive if an impending stroke. When it is accompanied by a vibration, we call it a thrill.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Jul 12, 2017
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