English: The stethoscope is a device used for auscultation, which is the technical term for listening to the sounds inside the body of an animal or human. It is often used to listen to heart sounds, but is also used to listen to bowel sounds, blood flow in arteries and the sounds made by the lungs. Unusual sounds can help a doctor discover medical conditions. It is a symbol of a doctor's profession, as doctors is often seen with stethoscopes around their necks.