The invention relates to a device for detecting and monitoring ingredients or properties of a measurement medium, for example physiological blood values, wherein said device contains a light source (20) for generating broad-spectrum measurement light (2) and for acting on a measurement area (3), and means (9) for fanning out the analysis light (4) reflected by the measurement area (3). The device also has a sensor array (11) for picking up the fanned light. The sensor array (11), the light source (20) and the means for dispersing the analysis light (4) are arranged as a compact unit in a housing.