Clinical thermometer | |
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![]() A medical/clinical mercury thermometer showing the temperature of 37.7 °C (99.9 °F) | |
Purpose | Measures body temperature |
A medical thermometer or clinical thermometer is a device used for measuring the body temperature of a human or other animal. The tip of the thermometer is inserted into the mouth under the tongue (oral or sub-lingual temperature), under the armpit (axillary temperature), into the rectum via the anus (rectal temperature), into the ear (tympanic temperature), or on the forehead (temporal temperature).