HESI Health Assessment Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The presence of a bruit is indicative of blood flow turbulence, which occurs when the smooth laminar flow of blood is disrupted, typically due to turbulent blood flow through a narrowed or obstructed vessel. This can often be detected through auscultation as a swishing or whooshing sound in the arteries, particularly in areas where blood vessels bifurcate or where there is a narrowing. It serves as a clinical sign that there may be underlying vascular issues, such as stenosis or vascular malformations.

In contrast, the other options do not signify blood flow turbulence. The palpable apical impulse indicates that the heart is contracting and that blood is being ejected effectively; it does not relate to turbulence. Normal capillary refill is a sign of good peripheral circulation, suggesting that blood flow is adequate and not turbulent. High blood pressure may suggest an increased workload on the heart or vascular resistance, but it does not directly indicate turbulence in the blood flow itself.