andlt;strongandgt;Stethoscope.andlt;/strongandgt; View of a gloved hand holding aandlt;strongandgt;andlt;/strongandgt;stethoscope. This is an essential piece of medicalequipment. A stethoscope is used to listen tosounds within the human chest. It consists of twoearpieces (not seen here), tubing (top right) anda round sound-detecting device with diaphragm(centre). By pressing the diaphragm against thepatientandamp;apos;s chest, sounds made by the heart andlungs can be detected. A stethoscope is useful inthe diagnosis of respiratory ailments of thelungs, and abnormalities of the heart. The glovesare common feature in modern medicine, they areused to maintain sterile conditions.
