Which term denotes an instrument to view a joint?

• A. Arthroscope
• B. Arthroscopy
• C. Astrocyte
• D. Atherectomy

Answer: (A)

The term denotes an instrument to view a joint: arthroscope. An arthroscope is a small, tube-like instrument equipped with a light and camera that a surgeon inserts into a joint during arthroscopy to visualize the inside on a monitor. The key difference is that this is the tool itself—the viewing instrument—while arthroscopy refers to the procedure of examining a joint with that instrument.

Knowing the prefixes helps: arthro- means joint, and -scope means an instrument for viewing. The other terms point to different things entirely—an astrocyte is a glial cell in the brain or spinal cord, and an atherectomy is a procedure to remove plaque from arteries.