What does auriscope mean?
An auriscope is a handheld medical instrument used to examine the ear. It typically consists of a light source, a magnifying lens, and a funnel-shaped speculum that is gently inserted into the outer ear canal, allowing a doctor or nurse to inspect the passage and view the eardrum clearly. Auriscopes are standard equipment in general practice, paediatrics, and ENT (ear, nose, and throat) clinics, where they are used to diagnose conditions such as ear infections, blockages caused by wax, and damage to the tympanic membrane. The word is used mainly in British English; in North America the same instrument is almost always called an otoscope, though the two terms refer to exactly the same device. Because it belongs to everyday clinical practice rather than specialist surgery, the word carries a neutral, professional tone. For general readers it is useful chiefly as a precise alternative to vague phrases like "the tool doctors look in your ear with."
nounAn instrument for examining the ear, especially the ear canal and eardrum; the standard term in British English for what American English usually calls an otoscope.
- A medical instrument with a light and magnifying lens used to examine the external ear canal and eardrum.
"The nurse used an auriscope to check for signs of infection behind the eardrum."
"The GP inserted the auriscope gently into the child's ear to inspect the eardrum."
"Medical students practised using the auriscope during their otolaryngology rotation."
Regular plural formation.
"The clinic kept several auriscopes sterilised and ready for use."
It's called a stethoscope when doctors listen to your heart — but the little torch they shine into your ear has a name of its own: the auriscope.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of auriscope
The word auriscope combines the Latin "auris", meaning ear, with the Greek-derived suffix "-scope" from "skopein", to look or examine. It was coined in the nineteenth century alongside other medical instruments ending in -scope, such as the microscope and stethoscope. Its close synonym otoscope uses the Greek root "ous"/"ot-" for ear instead of the Latin one, and both terms entered English during the same era of rapid medical instrumentation.
How auriscope is actually used
"Auriscope" is chiefly British; "otoscope" is the far more common term in North American medical usage. The word is formal or clinical in register and rarely appears outside healthcare contexts.
Easily confused with auriscope
A stethoscope is used to listen to sounds within the body such as the heart and lungs, whereas an auriscope is used to look inside the ear.