Which procedure examines the lower portion of the small intestine, including the sigmoid colon?

Which procedure examines the lower portion of the small intestine, including the sigmoid colon?

• A. Sigmoidoscopy
• B. Endoscopy
• C. Endoscope
• D. Upper endoscopy

Answer: (A)

The task is about identifying a procedure that visualizes the distal part of the large intestine, especially the sigmoid colon. A sigmoidoscopy uses a flexible scope inserted through the rectum to inspect the distal colon, mainly the rectum and sigmoid colon (and sometimes a bit of the descending colon). This makes it the specific procedure designed to examine that region, including the sigmoid area.

Other options refer to different things: an endoscopy is a general term for using a scope to look inside the body, not a specific region; an endoscope is the instrument itself, not a procedure; an upper endoscopy focuses on the upper GI tract (esophagus, stomach, and duodenum), not the lower colon.