The stethoscope is an acoustic 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 skin, and one or two tubes connected to two earpieces.

What does the prefix stethoscope mean?

a combining form meaning “chest,” used in the formation of compound words: stethoscope.

What does a stethoscope do?

The disc and the tube of the stethoscope amplify small sounds such as the sound of a patient's lungs, heart and other sounds inside the body, making them sound louder. The amplified sounds travel up the stethoscope's tube to the earpieces that the doctor listens through.