Medical Terms for the Procedures to Visually Examine the Body

There is a plethora of medical terms for the procedures which are used to visually examine the body. Many of them are scope-type procedures, or procedures that use a tiny camera at the end of a long, flexible tube. Others, like X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), can take pictures of the body using a much larger camera or machine.

Endoscopy and Bronchoscopy

• An endoscopy is a medical procedure that visually examines the upper digestive system. A tiny camera on the end of a long, flexible tube is inserted through the patient's mouth so the health-care provider can diagnose issues pertaining to the upper digestive system. An endoscopy is done primarily to diagnose or treat digestive system problems or to investigate any symptoms.

  A bronchoscopy is also a procedure where a tiny camera on a long tube is inserted through the mouth. The bronchoscope visually examines the lower airways, including the larynx, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles. This procedure views the mucosal surface of the airways for any abnormalities.

Colposcopy and Colonoscopy

• A colposcopy is a procedure done by a health-care professional to visually examine a woman's cervix and vagina. Typically, this procedure is done if an abnormal result was returned on a Papanicolaou test (also called Pap test). The doctor may even take a biopsy to further test the cells of the cervix or vagina.

  A colonoscopy is a procedure that examines the inside of the colon and rectum. According to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, the procedure is done to "detect inflamed tissue, ulcers and abnormal growths," as well as helping to detect early signs of colorectal cancer.

Arthroscopy

• An arthroscopy is a specific kind of surgery that is done to visually examine a joint, such as the knee, shoulder or elbow. An instrument called an arthroscope is used, which is a fiberoptic tool with a lighted tip. This procedure is done primarily to help the doctor diagnose and treat any symptoms inside the joint.

X-ray, MRI and CT Scan

• X-rays are images taken of structures inside the body, such as bones. An MRI is a procedure that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to produce images of organs and structures of the body. An MRI can sometimes be done with a special contrast material to highlight body structures more easily. A computerized tomography (CT scan), is slightly different than a regular X-ray in that numerous X-ray beams and a specific amount of electronic X-ray detectors rotate around the body while the examination table moves through the scanner, creating a two-dimensional, cross-section images of the body

Ultrasound

• Ultrasound imaging, also called sonography, is another way for health-care professionals to visually examine the body. High-frequency sound waves are emitted to create images of the inside of the body. Ultrasound imaging is used for examining the body's internal organs, such as the heart, kidneys and bladder. In addition, pregnant patients are also given an ultrasound so physicians may focus on the progress of the unborn fetus.