A patient's thyroid gland is enlarged, and the nurse is preparing to auscultate the gland for the presence of a bruit. What technique should the nurse use to assess for a bruit?

A. Palpation of the thyroid helps assess its size, consistency, and tenderness but does not aid in detecting a bruit. B. Swallowing helps assess the mobility of the thyroid but does not aid in auscultating for a bruit. C. The bell of the stethoscope is used to detect low-pitched sounds, such as a bruit, which might be heard if there is increased blood flow through the thyroid gland, as seen in hyperthyroidism or Graves' disease. D. The diaphragm is used to detect high-pitched sounds, such as lung or heart sounds. The bell is better for detecting a bruit.