Which term describes the examination of the inside of a hollow organ?

• A. Endometrium
• B. Endocytosis
• C. Endoderm
• D. Endoscopy

Answer: (D)

Examining the inside of a hollow organ is done with an endoscope in a procedure called endoscopy. An endoscope is a flexible instrument with a light and camera that lets a clinician look at the interior surfaces of organs such as the stomach, colon, or airways, and it can often be used to take tissue samples or perform treatments during the same session. The word parts help explain the idea: endo- means inside, and -scopy means to look or examine.

The other terms refer to things that are not examinations of hollow spaces. Endometrium is the lining of the uterus, not a procedure. Endocytosis is the process by which a cell takes in material from outside the cell. Endoderm is one of the germ layers formed during embryonic development. So endoscopy is the term that specifically describes the act of looking inside a hollow organ.