The Invention of the Stethoscope

In 1816, René Laennec, a 35-year-old doctor, was inspired by children using a wooden board to amplify sound. This led him to create a rolled paper device to listen to a patient's heart, avoiding direct contact. Over three years, he developed this idea into a hollow wooden tube, the precursor to the modern stethoscope.

What inspired René Laennec to think about sound transmission?

• A lecture he attended

• Children using a wooden board

• A book he read

• A conversation with a colleague

Why did Laennec hesitate to place his ear directly on the patient's chest?

• He was unsure of the diagnosis

• He was concerned about hygiene

• The patient was well developed

• He had a hearing problem

What did Laennec use to listen to the young woman's heart?

• A rubber hose

• A plastic funnel

• A rolled sheet of paper

• A metal tube

How long did Laennec spend developing his device?

• Four years

• One year

• Two years

• Three years

What material did Laennec finally use for his device?

• Metal

• Plastic

• Rubber

• Wood

What is the modern equivalent of Laennec's invention?

• Thermometer

• Otoscope

• Sphygmomanometer

• Stethoscope