What are otoscopes used for?

Otoscopes are used to look inside the ear canals. The name otoscope comes from two Greek Words, oto - "ear" and the verb skopein - "to look".

Most people have had their ears looked at in this manner. The otoscope is the big flashlight-looking thing that your doctor puts the little plastic tip on before putting it inside your ear and looking through the magnifying eyepiece. The otoscope allows the examiner to get a well-illuminated view of the ear canal and the eardrum of the person or animal being examined.