Auscult/o means which of the following?

• A. Self
• B. To listen
• C. Under the arm
• D. Lungs

Answer: (B)

Auscult/o is all about listening. In medical terminology, auscultation is the process of listening to internal body sounds—most often with a stethoscope—to assess the heart, lungs, or abdomen. The root does not mean self, under the arm, or lungs specifically; those would be auto-, axill/o or bronch/o/pulmon/o, respectively. So the combining form auscult/o directly conveys the act of listening, which is why it’s the best fit.