Meaning & use
colonoscope
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountablemedical
A flexible tube with a camera and light that doctors use to look inside the colon.
Grammar: Countable; often used with 'a' or in the plural.
Patterns
- insert a colonoscope
- use a colonoscope to examine
- through a colonoscope
The doctor inserted a colonoscope to check for any abnormalities.
A colonoscope allows the physician to see the lining of the colon.
During the procedure, the colonoscope transmits images to a monitor.
Word forms
| plural | colonoscopes |
|---|
Common combinations
- flexible colonoscope
- The flexible colonoscope can navigate the curves of the colon.
- insert a colonoscope
- The nurse assisted as the doctor inserted the colonoscope.
- colonoscope examination
- A colonoscope examination can detect polyps early.
Synonyms and how they differ
- endoscope
- An endoscope is a general term for any instrument used to look inside the body; a colonoscope is specifically for the colon.
Word family
- colonoscopy noun
- The medical procedure of examining the colon with a colonoscope.
- colonoscopic adjective
- Relating to a colonoscopy or colonoscope.
Commonly confused: colonoscope or colonoscopy? colonoscope or colostomy?
colonoscope vs colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is the procedure, while a colonoscope is the instrument used to perform it.
colonoscope vs colostomy
A colostomy is a surgical opening in the abdomen for waste removal, not an examination tool.
Practice
The doctor used a ____ to examine the inside of the patient's colon.
Choose one answer.
A colonoscope is the instrument used for examining the colon. 'Colonoscopy' is the procedure, 'colostomy' is a surgical opening, and 'endoscope' is a more general term that could be correct but is less specific.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “colonoscope”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.