Abstract

Bruit (; from French, "noise"), or vascular murmur, is the abnormal sound generated by turbulent flow of blood in an artery due to either an area of partial obstruction; or a localized high rate of blood flow through an unobstructed artery. The bruit may be heard ("auscultated") by pressing a stethoscope to the skin over the turbulent flow and listening. Most bruits occur only in systole, so the bruit is intermittent and its frequency dependent on the heart rate. Anything increasing the blood flow velocity such as fever, anemia, or hyperthyroidism, can increase the amplitude of the bruit.