The stethoscope is an acoustic medical device for auscultation, or listening to the internal sounds of an animal or human body. It typically has a small disc-shaped resonator that is placed against the chest, and two tubes connected to earpieces. It is often used to listen to lung and heart sounds.

A regular stethoscope is designed to allow a user to listen to the inner working of the body, such as a heartbeat, a pulse in an extremity, a bowel sound or fluid in the lungs.