Abstract: An illuminating tongue depressor includes a handle having a battery-operated light source and a depressor blade selectively coupled with or uncoupled from the handle for discard and replacement, the blade being constructed of a light-conducting synthetic resin material of relatively thin cross-section and being arched laterally to resist bending along the length thereof, the blade including a light-receiving surface at the proximal end thereof for juxtaposition with the light source and a light-directing configuration at the distal end thereof for directing light conducted from the light source and projected from the distal end to a defined area to be inspected during use of the tongue depressor in the examination of a patient.