Who invented the stethoscope?

Appeared in: P.CHO-2019

Explanation

The stethoscope was invented by the French physician René Laennec in 1816.
His invention was born out of a need for a more modest way to listen to a female patient's chest, initially using a rolled-up paper tube.
Laennec's first stethoscope was a monaural (single-ear) wooden cylinder, which amplified sounds from the chest.
This invention revolutionized medicine by allowing physicians to perform auscultation (listening to internal body sounds) non-invasively.

Option A: John Boyd Dunlop was an inventor in the field of transportation, not medicine.
Option C: Henry Bessemer was an engineer and inventor known for a steel-making process.
Option D: Leopold Auenbrugger developed the diagnostic technique of percussion, which involves tapping on the body's surface.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain History of Medical Inventions: Stethoscope as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Auscultation is a core nursing skill. Using the diaphragm (for high-pitched sounds like lung and normal heart sounds) versus the bell (for low-pitched sounds like murmurs and bruits) is critical for accurate assessment.
Stethoscopes are a significant vector for healthcare-associated infections. Nurses must clean the diaphragm and bell with an alcohol wipe before and after every patient use to prevent cross-contamination.
What if the patient is obese or has a very muscular chest wall? Heart and lung sounds may be muffled. In this case, the nurse should have the patient lean forward or lie on their left side to bring the heart closer to the chest wall, and ensure firm pressure is applied with the diaphragm.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question about a key figure in medical history.
First, identify the core subject of the question: the invention of the stethoscope.
Review the names provided in the options. Try to recall the major contribution of each person.
Laennec is strongly associated with the stethoscope. Auenbrugger is linked to percussion, another diagnostic technique.
Eliminate options that are clearly from different fields, such as Dunlop (tires) and Bessemer (steel).
Confirm that Laennec is the correct inventor of the stethoscope to select the final answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Qm7pO7wG1AkwVvGJckDXy6

E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 87-89

E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor p. 124-126

Practise the full P.CHO-2019

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.