Definition of Stethoscope
The stethoscope (from Ancient Greek στῆθος (stêthos) 'breast' and σκοπέω (skopéō) 'to look') is a medical device for auscultation, or listening to internal sounds of an animal or human body. It typically has a small disc-shaped resonator that is placed against the naked skin, with either one or two tubes connected to two earpieces. A stethoscope can be used to listen to the sounds made by the heart, lungs or intestines, as well as blood flow in arteries and veins. In combination with a manual sphygmomanometer, it is commonly used when measuring blood pressure. It was invented in 1816 by René Laennec and the binaural version by Arthur Leared in 1851.
A stethoscope that intensifies auscultatory sounds is called a phonendoscope.
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Questions people ask
Real questions from the Stack Exchange community – follow a link to read the discussion.
- Electronic stethoscope / contact mic not quite working · Electronics SE
Frequently asked questions
What is Stethoscope?
The stethoscope (from Ancient Greek στῆθος (stêthos) 'breast' and σκοπέω (skopéō) 'to look') is a medical device for auscultation, or listening to internal sounds of an animal or human body.
Sources & credits
- Wikipedia: Stethoscope – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by this version: Sonarpulse . origenal: Huji – Public domain