Bruit: This is a French word for the sound that is unusual and occurs when blood hurries past any impediment – referred to as “turbulent flow” – and is heard from an artery when the sound is listened to with the portion of the stethoscope known as the bell. The word “bruit” only denotes the sound. The location of the stethoscope when this sound is heard may upset the diagnosis.

Carotid bruit refers to a noise that is created by stormy blood flow in the carotid artery. It is thought to be a very good gauge of carotid artery stenosis.

Carotid bruit is best overheard thru a stethoscope that is positioned over the bifurcation of the carotid – at the upper border of the cartilage of thyroid – but the sound can also radiate to the supraclavicular area and neck as well as the obits. Bruits are most common with stenosis that is increasing and maximal of 70 to 90 percent stenosis. They are most likely to be severe if the individual has diabetes, ipsilateral bruit, or has had a previous TIA or transient ischemic attack.