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Stethoscope: meaning, definitions and examples

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stethoscope

 

[ ˈsteθəˌskoʊp ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

medical instrument

A stethoscope is a medical instrument used by healthcare professionals to listen to internal sounds of a patient's body, primarily sounds from the heart and lungs. It typically consists of a long flexible tube attached to a chest piece that contains a microphone. Stethoscopes play a crucial role in the diagnosis of various medical conditions, allowing doctors to detect abnormalities in heartbeats or lung sounds. They are essential for physical examinations and are widely used in hospitals and clinics.

Synonyms

diagnostic tool, medical listening device

Examples of usage

  • The doctor used a stethoscope to listen to the patient's heartbeat.
  • She placed the stethoscope on his chest to check for any irregular breathing.
  • During the check-up, the nurse handed him a stethoscope.

Translations

Translations of the word "stethoscope" in other languages:

🇵🇹 estetoscópio

🇮🇳 स्टेथोस्कोप

🇩🇪 Stethoskop

🇮🇩 stetoskop

🇺🇦 стетоскоп

🇵🇱 stetoskop

🇯🇵 聴診器

🇫🇷 stéthoscope

🇪🇸 estetoscopio

🇹🇷 stetoskop

🇰🇷 청진기

🇸🇦 سماعة طبية

🇨🇿 stetoskop

🇸🇰 stetoskop

🇨🇳 听诊器

🇸🇮 stetoskop

🇮🇸 hlustunartæki

🇰🇿 стетоскоп

🇬🇪 სტეტოსკოპი

🇦🇿 stetoskop

🇲🇽 estetoscopio

Word origin

The word 'stethoscope' originates from the Greek roots 'stethos', meaning 'chest', and 'skopein', meaning 'to look or examine'. The instrument was invented in the early 19th century by French physician René Laennec in 1816. Initially, he used a rolled-up piece of paper to listen to heart sounds, which he later enhanced into the modern stethoscope. Laennec's invention reflected the desire for a non-invasive method to assess heart and lung conditions. As medicine advanced, the design of the stethoscope evolved, leading to the introduction of binaural stethoscopes in the 19th century, which allowed for enhanced sound quality and simultaneous listening. Today, stethoscopes are a foundational tool in clinical practice, symbolizing the medical profession.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,958, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.