The tools of diagnostic medicine can vary from the simple to complex.
Diagnostic tools serve the purpose of ascertaining specific information which the diagnostician (in the case of medicine, your doctor) can use to determine if there is something wrong with you, or if you are already suffering, why there is something wrong with you.
Stethoscope
Arguably one of the icons of the medical profession, the stethoscope has been in use for more than 200 years. This simple device allows the doctor to listen to your heart beat and is often the first tool employed by medical professionals when examining you. Modern stethoscopes can come with the capability to record heartbeats to MP3 files for later consultation.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a technologically sophisticated modern tool that makes detailed, three-dimensional scans of internal organs such as the brain, heart and spinal cord. A variety of contrast agents can be injected into the patient before the scan for different purposes: some make abnormal structures more readily visible, some are used to track centers of activity in the brain (where more blood is being used) and others can be used to look for coronary disease in the heart.
X-Ray Machines
X-ray machines are the oldest type of internal medical imaging equipment. They pass highly charged and mildly radioactive particles, X-rays, through your body into a receiving plate below. The differing densities of the material the rays pass through before they hit the plate result in detailed images of bone structures and some information about internal organs. They are commonly used to diagnose broken bones, check dental structures and look for the fluid in the lungs indicative of pneumonia.
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