n. a sharp or harsh systolic sound, heard on *auscultation, that is due to turbulent blood flow in a peripheral artery, usually the carotid or iliofemoral artery. Bruits can also be heard over arteriovenous *fistulae or malformations.
The sounds made in the heart, arteries, or veins when blood circulation becomes turbulent or flows at an abnormal speed. This happens when blood vessels become narrowed by disease (as in arteriosclerosis), when heart valves are narrowed or damaged (as in endocarditis), or if blood vessels dilate (as in an aneurysm). Bruits are usually heard through a stethoscope.... bruits
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