What does the diaphragm of a stethoscope primarily detect?

The diaphragm of a stethoscope is designed to effectively detect high-frequency sounds, which includes normal heart sounds and breath sounds. The diaphragm's flatter, larger surface area is particularly good at transmitting these higher frequency sounds due to the way it vibrates when placed against the body.

Normal heart sounds, such as the "lub" and "dub," are produced by the closing of heart valves and fall into the higher frequency range. Similarly, breath sounds generated by the airflow in the lungs are also predominantly high-frequency sounds.

This functionality distinguishes the diaphragm from the bell of the stethoscope, which is more suited for detecting lower-frequency sounds, such as some heart murmurs and certain vascular sounds. Understanding this distinction is crucial for clinicians as it guides them on how to best use the stethoscope to gather relevant diagnostic information from their patients.