Helphow does a clinical thermometre differs from a laboratory thermoeter?

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SUMMARY

A clinical thermometer differs from a laboratory thermometer in three key aspects: the presence of a constriction in the tube, the temperature range, and the cross-sectional shape. The constriction in a clinical thermometer retains mercury after removal from the mouth, allowing for easy reading of body temperature. In contrast, laboratory thermometers have a broader range, typically from 0°C to 100°C or 120°C. Additionally, clinical thermometers feature a pear-shaped tube that magnifies the mercury thread, enhancing visibility, while laboratory thermometers do not possess this design.

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This discussion is beneficial for medical professionals, laboratory technicians, and anyone interested in the technical distinctions between clinical and laboratory thermometers.

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Help..pleasez. how does a clinical thermometre differs from a laboratory thermoeter?

hey. anyone could help me in listing ways in which clinical thermometer differs from laboratory thermometer? with explanation for each difference?

thanx everyone for ur help.
 
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How about you start by giving us some of your thoughts on the question?
 
1. A clinical thermometer has a narrow constriction in the tube just above the bulb. The expanding mercury pushes its way past the constriction when the thermometer is placed in the mouth.
When the thermometer is taken out of the mouth the mecury does not immediately fall back to the bulb. The mecury is trapped at the temperature of the body it was placed in. This allows for the temperature to be read after it has been taken out of the mouth. The only way to return all the mecury to the bulb is to flick it back and forth.
A normal thermometer (a lab thermometer) does not have this constriction

2. A clinical thermometer has a much shorter range than a lab thermometer. A clinical has a range of 35C to 42C (about the range for body temp.) but a lab has a range to about 100C or 120C

3. The cross sectional shape of the tube is a pear shape. It acts as a magnifying glass so that it is easier to see the fine thread of mercury in the fine tube. A lab thermometer doesn't have this pear shape (not that I know of).

Jeremy
 
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