Stethoscope facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Stethoscope-2
Stethoscope

A stethoscope is a instrument used by doctors and other medical people. It is used to measure peoples heartbeat and their breathing. It is placed on the area where the heart is or on the back.

The modern stethoscope is made up of a Y-shaped flexible plastic tube. An earpiece is attached to each end of the Y and a sound-detecting device at the other end. The sound-detecting device has a thin plastic sheet on one side and a bell shape with a hole in on the other. The diaphragm is used to listen to a patient's chest for high-pitched sounds. The bell end is used to detect lower-pitched sounds. The lung sounds have a higher frequency than heart sounds.

Images for kids

  • Laennecs stethoscope, c 1820. (9660576833)

    This early stethoscope belonged to Laennec. (Science Museum, London)

  • Toraube2

    A Traube-type stethoscope in ivory

  • Early flexible stethoscopes

    Early flexible tube stethoscopes. Golding Bird's instrument is on the left. The instrument on the right was current around 1855 when this image was first published.

  • Standardized-Patient-Program-examining-t he-abdomen

    A doctor using a stethoscope to listen to a patient's abdomen

  • Pinard horn Uganda US Army nurse

    A Pinard horn used by a U.S. Army Reserve nurse in Uganda

  • Stethoscope-2

    Modern stethoscope

  • Hörrohr Stethoskop Meyers 1890

    Early stethoscopes

  • Stethoscope pink

    Acoustic stethoscope, with the bell upwards


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Stethoscope Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.