​The beam muscles contract and relax rhythmically. this rhythmic contraction followed by its relaxation constitute a heartbeat. Which instrument is used to measure heartbeats?​

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (c) Stethoscope.

Explanation: A stethoscope is the instrument used by healthcare professionals to listen to the heartbeat and other internal sounds of the body, such as lung sounds and bowel sounds. It allows the clinician to assess the rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the heart muscles, commonly referred to as the heartbeat.

Here’s a breakdown of the function of each instrument mentioned in the options:

1. Stethoscope: The stethoscope is specifically designed to amplify sounds made by the heart, lungs, and other organs within the body. It is primarily used for listening to heartbeats (the rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the heart muscles) and for checking the heartbeat rhythm and heart rate. The heartbeat is generated by the contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) of the heart muscles, and this is what a stethoscope helps doctors or healthcare workers to hear. The stethoscope consists of a chest piece, usually with a diaphragm and bell, connected by flexible tubing to earpieces. The diaphragm is used for higher-pitched sounds like the heartbeat.

2. Sphygmomanometer: A sphygmomanometer is used to measure blood pressure, not heartbeats. It works by inflating a cuff around the arm to temporarily stop blood flow, then slowly releasing the pressure and measuring the systolic and diastolic pressures as the heart pumps blood. Blood pressure is an important indicator of heart health but is not the same as measuring heartbeats.

3. Potometer: A potometer is an instrument used to measure the rate of water absorption or transpiration in plants. It is not related to heart rate or measuring heartbeats in humans or animals.

4. Oximeter: An oximeter (or pulse oximeter) is used to measure the oxygen saturation level in the blood. While it provides information about the pulse rate (heart rate) indirectly through the detection of blood flow, it does not measure the actual heartbeats themselves. It is more focused on oxygen levels and overall circulation.