If you’re not sure what a stethoscope is or what it is used for, don’t worry. Not everybody is enlightened about this topic. This article is about stethoscopes and how they work.
History of the Stethoscope
The stethoscope was invented in France by Rene Laennec so that he could listen to his female patient’s chests without placing his head on them. Over the past 200 years, the stethoscope has undergone a lot of revisions. However, all versions function using the same basic principles.
Importance of the Invention of a Stethoscope
A medical historian, Jaclyn Duffin, explains that the invention of the stethoscope completely changed the way medical professionals and other laypeople conceptualize disease. Before the invention of the stethoscope, there were no other lethal methods of assessing internal anatomy.
A disease was normally evaluated and then treated by the symptoms. After the stethoscope was invented, diseases started to be reviewed according to the underlying anatomical grounds for their symptoms.
How Does a Stethoscope Work?
A stethoscope has a small resonator that is attached to two tubes with earpieces. The earpieces are used to transmit and amplify internal sounds in the human body. To get a better understanding of the stethoscope and how it works, you can check out this post.
Use of a Stethoscope
Stethoscopes are normally used by healthcare professionals for health evaluation. The medical devices can be used by scientists or auto-mechanics to listen to the internal noises of machinery.
A healthcare professional will use a stethoscope to listen to sound waves from a patient’s heart, lungs, the womb, intestines or even blood flow in the veins and arteries. A stethoscope is usually used alongside a “blood pressure cuff” or sphygmomanometer to check a patient’s blood pressure.
Today, there are modern digital stethoscopes that give the highest quality sound. Digital stethoscopes can also record exams, allowing doctors to share and consult with other healthcare professionals in cases where a second opinion is required or for training purposes.
Every medical practitioner should learn how a stethoscope is used because it is a necessity in their field of work. The instrument is used to diagnose diseases in the lungs, heart, womb, bowel, veins and arteries.
