Introductory Medical Terminology
List of Related Terms – Digestive System
List of related terms – Digestive system
Colonoscope
(colon - colon, large intestine; scope - instrument for visual
examination)
Instrument used for examining the colon.
Endoscope
(endo - inside, scope - instrument for visual examination)
Instrument to view inside.
Endoscopes are fibre optic tubes that can be inserted into
body cavities or into small incisions made in the body wall.
Each is provided with illumination and a system of lenses
which enables the operator to view the inside of the body.
The inclusion of electronic chips at the end of the fibre optic
tube allows the view to be transmitted to a video screen.
Sometimes they are used for photography and then known as
photoendoscopes. Special kinds of endoscopes, used to view
various parts of the digestive system, are listed elsewhere in
this table.
Endoscopes can be used to view cavities. They can be fitted
with a variety of attachments , such as forceps and catheters
and they can be used for special applications (see ERCP).
ERCP or endoscopic
retrograde
cholangiopancreatography
(chol - bile, gall; angi/o - relating to blood or lymph vessels,
pancreat/o - pancreas, graphy - process of recording a picture
or record)
A technique for making an x-ray of the pancreatic vessels and
bile duct by passing a catheter (tube) backwards (retrograde)
into them using an endoscope. Dye is injected through the
catheter to outline the vessels and ducts on the x-ray.
Gastroenteroscope
(gastr/o - stomach, enter - small intestine, scope - instrument
for visual examination)
Endoscope used for examining the stomach and intestine.
Gastroscope
(gastr/o - stomach, scope - instrument for visual examination)
Endoscope used for examining the stomach.
-gram
© TAFE frontiers 2001
Refers to an x-ray picture, paper recording or to a trace on a
screen.
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Introductory Medical Terminology
List of Related Terms – Digestive System
-graph
Used in medicine for the name of an instrument which
carries out a recording. Occasionally it is used to mean the
recording itself.
-graphy
Technique or process of making a recording, eg an x-ray or
tracing. It can also refer to a written description.
Ileostomy
A permanent opening made when the whole of the large
intestine has been removed. This acts as an artificial anus.
The ileum opens directly on to the abdominal wall and the
liquid discharge from it is collected in a plastic ileostomy bag.
After passing through the small intestine any remaining
material passes into the large intestine or large bowel.
Laparoscope
(lapar/o - abdomen, scope - instrument for visual
examination)
Endoscope used for examining the abdominal cavity through
the abdominal wall.
Laparotomy
A type of exploratory operation. The laparoscope is passed
through a small opening into the abdominal cavity to view
the internal organs.
Panendoscopy
This is when all the upper digestive system is being examined
at the same time. Examination of oesophagus, stomach and
duodenum at the same examination.
Proctoscope
(proct/o - anus, rectum; scope - instrument for visual
examination)
Endoscope used for examining the rectum.
Sigmoidoscope
(sigmoid/o - sigmoid colon, scope - instrument for visual
examination)
Endoscope used for examining the rectum and sigmoid colon.
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