Bowel Sounds
  • Normal Peristalsis

  • Frequency = 5 per minute.
    Wide range of bubbling and gurgling sounds, loud, medium and high-pitched quality.
    Evaluate: Frequency, Intensity, Pitch, Location.

  • Hyperperistalsis

  • Increased frequency, rushing sounds, coincides with cramps.
  • Gastric Succussion splash

  • Air-fluid sound, when shaking the Patient: sloshing sound (obstruction).
  • Borborygmi

  • audible bowel sounds without stethoscope.

    Bruits
  • Aortic
  • (Atherosclerotic aneurysm).
  • Renal
  • (unilateral or bilateral).
  • Femoral
  • (T-and-fro murmur, is Duroziez' sign -aortic regurgitation- best heard with diaphragm).
  • Hepatic
  • (vascular tumors -RUQ-, also venous hums).
  • Venous abdominal


  • Rubs
  • Hepatic
  • (neoplasm, abscesses, etc).
  • Splenic
  • (abscesses, infarction, etc).