Just What the Doctor Ordered Trivia Quiz

Answer: stethoscope

A stethoscope generally has two earpieces and a resonator. The doctor may use this to listen to any internal body sounds, such as the heart, lungs, or intestines.

Before stethoscopes were invented a doctor would place their ear directly on the patient. Developed by Rene Theophile Hyacinthe Laënnec (1781-1826), the first stethoscopes were monaural. Arthur Leared would develop a bi-aural stethoscope in 1851.

Answer: thermometer

Thermometers can be used to measure a patient's temperature by being placed either under the tongue or armpit, or by being inserted into the rectum.

The first medical thermometer is credited to Santorio Santorio in 1612. Other doctors would use them in the 18th century and found that the progress of an illness correlated to temperature. These thermometers were large and took quite a bit of time to capture a reading.

It was Sir Thomas Allbutt who invented a portable thermometer (able to read a patient's temperature in about five minutes) in 1867.

Answer: tongue

Tongue depressors are generally used so that doctor can check the tonsils and the back of a patient's throat. Though there are many examples of depressors made from metal to be found in museums, today most are made from a thin wood blade and easily disposable.

Answer: hammer

A reflex hammer is often used in an exam to test a patient's knee-jerk reflex. Either a reduced or exaggerated reflex can indicate the possibility that a patient would require further diagnostic testing.

Though there are many shapes of reflex hammers, in the U.S. one of the most common for a doctor's office exam was designed by John Madison Taylor in 1888. The rubber head of the hammer resembles a triangle.

Answer: gloves

The disposible medical gloves used today minimize the risk of transfer of any pathogens from the doctor to the patient. In addition, they provide a measure of safety for doctors treating a patient with an infectious disease.

The invention of surgical gloves is credited to Dr. William Stewart Halstead and Goodyear Rubber Company in 1889, not for himself--but for his wife who developed a rash from the chemicals used for surgery.

The company Ansell is credited with manufacturing the first disposable latex medical gloves in 1964.

Answer: needle

The development of the medical hypodermic needle was intended to find if medicines, traditionally given orally, would be effective when given intravenously.

Today these disposable needles are used to deliver medicated fluids to a patient, but are also used for blood donations. Patients may also self-inject to treat diabetes or allergic reaction.

Answer: scale

Although many doctor's offices now have digital scales, many still prefer the accuracy of the beam scale. This was patented in 1921 and 1922 by M. J. Weber. When a patient steps on the platform, the beam is then balanced by moving weights left or right.

Answer: otoscope

Otoscopes can be used in a doctor's examination to peer into the ear, nasal or throat cavities of a patient. When examining the ear a funnel shaped speculum is attached.

Otoscopes were first developed by Guy de Chauliac in 1363, but the design was improved in 1838 by Ignaz Gruber with the development of the funnel shaped speculum.

Answer: tuning fork

A doctor might use a tuning fork to determine if a patient is experiencing either inner or middle ear hearing loss. The Weber and Rinne tests are generally performed together.

The Weber test is named after Ernst Heinrich Weber and helps detect middle or inner ear hearing loss. The Rinne test is named for Heinrich Adolf Rinne and helps detect conductive hearing loss. Non-positive results for these tests are generally followed up with further tests.

Answer: bandage

Bandages come in many forms, though the term is often used in the USA for a gauze pad attached to an adhesive strip. Compression bandages can be used to bind a joint after injury.

The adhesive bandage, trademarked BAND-AID, was developed by Earle Dickson while working for Johnson and Johnson in 1920. His motivation was that his wife frequently injured herself in the kitchen.