bruit /bro̅o̅″ē/ [Fr, noise] , an abnormal blowing or swishing sound or murmur heard while auscultating a carotid artery, the aorta, an organ, or a gland, such as the liver or thyroid, and resulting from blood flowing through a narrow or partially occluded artery. The specific character of the bruit, its location, and the time of its occurrence in a cycle of other sounds are all of diagnostic importance. Bruits are usually of low frequency and are heard best with the bell of a stethoscope.
