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so that the air from breathing does not pass over it and cool it thereby giving an incorrect reading
To give a true reading of inner body heat.
Because the intense heat of our body is present under our tongue so that we can measure our whole body temperature .
The underside of the tongue has the most bloodflow and is more accurate than any part of the mouth
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∙ 9y ago
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∙ 15y agowell in order to get an accurate reading of bodily temp you need to get the thermometer inside your body... now there are a couple other methods of taking temp such as in the ear which requires a special more expensive thermometer or or course rectally... and that would not be comfortable. so that is why under the tongue has become the standard form of checking temp it is simple and pain free and the most inexpensive. not to mention very accurate.
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∙ 10y agothis is probably the most accurate place to judge the heat of your body.
If you look at the underside of your tongue you will see a number of blood vessels very close to the surface. By putting the right thermometer under your tongue and closing your mouth you will get a very good reading of your body temperature.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoIt is proven that taking the body temperature under the tongue and armpits is more accurate than any other area of the body.
Ayraayra: Actually the most accurate core temp is taken rectally, although the new thermometers they use usually in PEDS is the temporal thermometer which has been proven to be fairly accurate also and less invasive.
There are lots of blood vessels under your tongue and because your tongue is closer to the core of your body it give a more accurate temperature reading.
When you stick a thermometer in your mouth, obviously it gets wet. When moisture evaporates off of a wet surface, the temperature drops slightly. Breathing will increase the rate of evaporation (and, therefore, the amount the temperature drops). To get the most accurate reading, the thermometer needs to be under the tongue so it will be protected from the air current produced by breathing.
When you stick a thermometer in your mouth, obviously it gets wet. When moisture evaporates off of a wet surface, the temperature drops slightly. Breathing will increase the rate of evaporation (and, therefore, the amount the temperature drops). To get the most accurate reading, the thermometer needs to be under the tongue so it will be protected from the air current produced by breathing.
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∙ 12y agoRectal temperature is the most accurate, however how many of us want to have it taken that way? Also, this method does have a slight chance for injury to the rectum or of losing the thermometer into the rectum.
Next best is oral temperature. To take an oral temperature, which is almost as reliable when done correctly, make sure the person has not had anything to eat or drink within the last 10 minutes. Place the thermometer under the tongue so that it sits down in the small "pouch-like" area on either side of the piece of tissue that holds the tongue down, (the frenulum).
The person must hold their mouth closed and keep the thermometer in place for a certain period of time. If you have a digital thermometer, it will tell you when it's "done". If you are using an old "Mercury thermometer", the thermometer must stay under the tongue for at least a minute to 2 minutes.
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∙ 11y agoThe three most common places to take body temperatures using a clinical thermometer is:-
Under the tongue,
Under-armpit and
Rectally
Under the tongue is not used for babies or small kids in case they bite the thing. (It's made of glass!)
Rectally is considered the most accurate of the three.
Wiki User
∙ 8y agoTo measure the temperature in that warm place. If you keep your mouth open, or put it somewhere else, it is likely to measure the temperature more of the outside air than the temperature of your body.
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∙ 8y agoThe thermometer is place under the tongue because blood vessels run close to the surface and the thermometer can pick up a temperature that is most accurately the real body temperature. You also have sort of a "pocket" when the tongue covers the thermometer.
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∙ 12y agoIt gives a true reading of inner body heat, besides for the anal one or the arm pit one. I love the ear one, simplicity and its fast, digital read.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoIt gives a good reading of body temperature because the end of the thermometer is surrounded by 'flesh', as opposed to on top of the tongue where it is cooler.
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Why do you keep a thermometer under the tongue?
Measuring body temperature by keeping thermometer under the tongue is a convenient standardfor measuring one's body temperature. Other places used for keeping the thermometer includethe armpit and the rectum.
How is temperature taken through an oral placement?
The procedure for taking a patient's temperature by mouth with a mercury thermometer is similar to the axillary method except that the silver tip of the thermometer is placed beneath the tongue for four to five minutes before being read.
Why the thermometer is kept under the tongue while taking temperature?
So you can measure the persons temp
Why should a clinical thermometer not be washed in hot water?
The idea is based avoiding use of the thermometer when it is reading "higher" than what it is that is being measured. Let's look at what's happening. If we wash a clinical thermometer in hot water, it will respond to that hot water. That will cause the reading to shoot up well above a hundred degrees. If we then try to use it, it will have to "cool down" under the tongue of the person we're using it on. It is actually being cooled by that person. The thermometer will take a relatively long time to reach the temperature of the individual whose temperature is being measured. And this time will vary, but will be longer than it would be for the thermometer to "come up" to temperature. One of the directions for using these thermometers is to first shake it down until it reads less than 95 degrees or so. If you're starting with a thermometer than has just been washed in hot water, you're not going to be able to shake it down per the directions. You'll have to run it under cool water for a bit to cool it so you can use it.
What different types of thermometers exist?
Contributed by 1st grader Mackenzie and her mom Julie: There are circle thermometers which are like a clock and you read the numbers from left to right. There are stick thermometers that go under your tongue, your arm pit or other body parts. The numbers go from bottom to top. There are digital thermometers that can go in your ear, on your finger or other body parts. There are inside thermometers and outside thermometers to tell the general warmth/coolness of the space/environment. There are different scales - Fahrenheit and Celsius. Thermometers may be used to take a person's body temperature, to tell how warm/cold it is outside or in a room, to test whether food is cooked to a desired temperature to be safe. We hope we helped you.
What is the purpose of a clinical thermometer?
A clinical thermometer is used to measure the body temperature. It is usually placed under the tongue, armpit, or rectum. Under the tongue is normally where it's placed.
Where would the doctor place the clinical thermometer to take your body temperature?
use a thermometer (ear, digital, rectall or pacifier) and put the digital underneath your tongue and wait till it beeps. the same with the rest but the ear thermometer in the ear and rectall thermometer in the rectall. Hope you get better soon xox <3
Methods of checking body temperature?
under the tongue or in the armpit
Which parts of body temperature can be taken?
under the tongue, armpit, rectum, ear(with a tempanic thermometer)
Why do you keep thermometer under the tongue?
Measuring body temperature by keeping thermometer under the tongue is a convenient standardfor measuring one's body temperature. Other places used for keeping the thermometer includethe armpit and the rectum.
Why do you keep a thermometer under the tongue?
Measuring body temperature by keeping thermometer under the tongue is a convenient standardfor measuring one's body temperature. Other places used for keeping the thermometer includethe armpit and the rectum.
What do you call the thermometer that you stick in your ...?
It's called a rectal thermometer. It gives a slightly more accurate reading than when put under your tongue or in your armpit.
Where do you insert the mercury thermometer?
You can take your temperature with a mercury thermometer is several places, the most common is in the mouth under the tongue while another place is under the armpit
How do you use the clinical theamometer?
1.shake the thermometer vigorously so that the murcery goes below the normal mark 2.keep the rhermometer either in the armpit or under the tongue of the person whose temperature is to be taken 3.wait for 2 minutes 4.take out the thermometer and read the mark where the silver mark of mercury ends
Why do you put a thermometer under your tongue?
because it's a place on your body that is really warm. same as with an armpit, or even in the rectum, the inside of your body is what you need to measure
What does a clinical thermometer consist of?
a clinical thermometer consists of mercury(Hg) concealed inside a glass tube with a bulb at the bottom. the bulb portion has the mercury and is thermo-sensitive. owing to the rise in temperature, when kept under the tongue of a patient, the mercury rises over the calibrated tube portion.
6 - The bit is placed... on the tongue or under the tongue?
The bit is placed on the tongue.
