An instrument used to measure temperature. A traditional clinical thermometer consists of a glass capillary tube (a tube with a very fine bore) that is sealed at one end and has a mercury-filled bulb at the other.
Modern versions of the clinical thermometer include an electronic probe connected to a digital display, and an aural thermometer, which measures the temperature of the eardrum.
Both versions give an almost instant reading.
There are also disposable skin thermometers that employ heat-sensitive chemicals, which change colour at specific temperatures.
These are not as reliable, however.
Clinical thermometers may be calibrated in degrees Celsius (centigrade), degrees Fahrenheit, or sometimes both.
An instrument for measuring a person’s body TEMPERATURE. A traditional clinical thermometer comprises a glass capillary tube sealed at one end with a MERCURY-?lled bulb at the other. The mercury expands (rises) and contracts (falls) according to the temperature of the bulb, which may be placed under the tongue or arm or in the rectum. Calibration is in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit. Modern thermometers use an electric probe linked to a digital read-out display, providing an instant reading. Hospitals now have electronic devices that maintain constant monitoring of patients’ temperatures, pulse rates and blood pressure.
n. a device for registering temperature. A clinical thermometer consists of a sealed narrow-bore glass tube with a bulb at one end. It contains mercury, which expands when heated and rises up the tube. The tube is calibrated in degrees, and is designed to register temperatures between 35°C (95°F) and 43.5°C (110°F). An oral thermometer is placed in the mouth; a rectal thermometer is inserted into the rectum.
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