Endoscopy

An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of your body is examined :-

• An instrument which is used for endoscopy is called as an endoscope.
• An endoscope is a long, thin, flexible tube that has a light source and camera at one end.
• Images of the inside of your body are relayed to a television screen.

Endoscopes can be inserted into the body through a natural opening, such as the mouth and down the throat, or through the bottom.

An endoscope can also be used to remove a small sample of tissue for further analysis. This is known as a biopsy.

If the food pipe (oesophagus), stomach or first part of the small intestine needs to be examined, it's known as a gastroscopy. If the bowel needs to be examined, it is known as a colonoscopy.

Modified endoscopes with surgical instruments attached to them or passed through them can be used to carry out certain types of surgery.