Which procedure uses a scope to examine the entire colon (large intestine)?

Which procedure uses a scope to examine the entire colon (large intestine)?

• A. Endoscope
• B. Endoscopy
• C. Sigmoidoscopy
• D. Colonoscopy

Answer: (D)

The key idea is identifying a procedure that uses a scope to view the whole large intestine. A colonoscopy uses a colonoscope, a longer flexible scope designed to travel through the entire colon from the rectum to the cecum, allowing visualization of the entire large intestine and the option to take biopsies or remove polyps during the same procedure. In contrast, an endoscope is just the instrument itself and endoscopy is the general procedure of looking inside with such a scope, not specifying which part of the GI tract is examined. A sigmoidoscopy, by comparison, only reaches the lower part of the colon—the sigmoid colon and sometimes the descending colon—so it does not cover the entire colon.

The key idea is identifying a procedure that uses a scope to view the whole large intestine. A colonoscopy uses a colonoscope, a longer flexible scope designed to travel through the entire colon from the rectum to the cecum, allowing visualization of the entire large intestine and the option to take biopsies or remove polyps during the same procedure.

In contrast, an endoscope is just the instrument itself and endoscopy is the general procedure of looking inside with such a scope, not specifying which part of the GI tract is examined. A sigmoidoscopy, by comparison, only reaches the lower part of the colon—the sigmoid colon and sometimes the descending colon—so it does not cover the entire colon.