endoscope
noun
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The Greek prefix endo- means "within, inside", so around 1860 an early crude instrument for looking deep inside the body was named the endoscope. But modern endoscopy required the invention of the electric lightbulb and then fiber-optic cable, so the first modern endoscopes date only to 1967. An endoscope may be inserted through a natural passageway (for example, through the nose or down the esophagus) or through a tiny cut in the skin. A tiny camera with a light at the end of the cable sends back images onto a screen, and the surgeon uses special instruments that work through a tube alongside the cable. There are now specialized types of endoscopes for every part of the body, where they can take tissue samples, cut out small growths, or remove foreign objects.
Examples of endoscope in a Sentence
Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Algorithms that would power the SRT-H were trained on over 17 hours of video captured from the DaVinci endoscope and cameras installed on its robotic arms.
—Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 21 July 2025
High-definition endoscopes provide a significantly clearer view of the upper digestive tract.
—Marla Anderson, Verywell Health, 8 July 2025
Endoscopies use an endoscope, a tube with a small light and camera attached, to look inside organs.13
Elastography (FibroScan): This test checks if the liver is stiffer than normal, which is a sign of liver fibrosis (early liver scarring).
—Suchandrima Bhowmik, Health, 29 June 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Endoscope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endoscope. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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endoscope
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endoscope
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