René Laennec

Childhood

• Born February 17, 1781
• Mother died of tuberculosis when he was 5 or 6
• Father (a lawyer) discouraged his medical career making René stop for a while only to go back and continue his studies

ABOUT RENÉ

• He learned English and German then began his medical studies
• Gifted student
• Wrote poetry and studied Greek

INSPIRATION FOR THE STETHOSCOPE

• It was heard that Laennec was watching schoolchildren playing with long, hollow sticks leading up to his invention of the stethoscope

Accomplishments

• Invented the stethoscope
• Re-introduced percussion during the French Revolution
• Is considered to be one of the greatest doctors of all time

THE STETHOSCOPE

• The stethoscope is an acoustic medical device for auscultation, or listening to the internal sounds of an animal or human body.It is a medical instrument for listening to the action of someone's heart or breathing, typically having 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.

LIFESPAN

• Born February 17, 1781
• Died August 13, 1826