Which delicate instrument is used to detect almost inaudible sounds produced in the body?

• A. Otoscope
• B. Stethoscope
• C. Sphygmomanometer
• D. Tuning fork

Answer: (B)

A stethoscope is designed to hear internal body sounds that are not loud enough to be heard without amplification. By placing the chest piece on the skin, sounds such as heartbeats and breath sounds are captured and carried through the tubing to the listener’s ears, making very faint noises detectable. The device often includes a diaphragm for higher-frequency sounds and a bell for lower-frequency sounds, allowing the clinician to hear a range of internal noises more clearly. In contrast, an otoscope is used to examine the ear canal and eardrum, a sphygmomanometer measures blood pressure, and a tuning fork tests hearing or vibration, not the general auscultation of internal bodily sounds. So, the instrument that detects almost inaudible bodily sounds is the stethoscope.