Endoscopy facts for kids

Endoscopy means to look inside. It usually means looking inside the human body for medical reasons using a special tool called an endoscope.

An endoscope is a medical tool that helps doctors see inside a patient's body. The great thing about it is that doctors can look around and even do some operations without having to open up the body. This is safer because opening the body always carries a risk of infection.

The endoscope has a long, thin tube that goes into the patient's body. At the end of this tube, there's a tiny camera or lens. Doctors usually put the endoscope into the patient's nose, mouth, or bottom (anus). This lets them see what's happening inside. If needed, they can also use small tools through the endoscope to help the patient.

What are the main parts of an endoscope?

An endoscope has several important parts that help it work:

• A tube: This can be stiff (rigid) or bendy (flexible).
• A light: The light usually comes from outside the body and travels through special optical fibers to light up the area inside.
• A lens system: This system collects the image from inside the body and sends it to the doctor's eye or a screen. In older, stiff endoscopes, it uses a series of lenses. In newer, flexible ones, it uses bundles of tiny fibers.
• An eyepiece or camera: Some endoscopes have an eyepiece for the doctor to look through. Many modern ones, called videoscopes, have a camera that sends the image to a screen. This is helpful because everyone in the operating room can see what's happening.
• Extra channels: Endoscopes often have small extra tubes or channels. These allow doctors to pass tiny medical tools or manipulators inside the body to take samples or perform small procedures.

How do doctors use endoscopy?

Endoscopy is used to look at many different parts of the body. Here are some common uses:

Checking the digestive system

Doctors often use endoscopy to look at the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), which is your digestive system.

• Upper GI tract: This includes your esophagus (food pipe), stomach, and the first part of your duodenum (small intestine).
• Small intestine: To see more of your small intestine.
• Colon: To check your large intestine.
• Bile duct: To look at the tubes that carry bile from your liver.

Looking at the breathing system

Endoscopy can also help doctors see inside your breathing system.

• Nose: To check inside your nose and sinuses.
• Lower airways: A procedure called bronchoscopy lets doctors look into your lungs and air passages.

Examining other body parts

Endoscopy is also used for many other parts of the body:

• Urinary system: To check your bladder and tubes that carry urine.
• Female reproductive system: To look at parts like the cervix, uterus, and Fallopian tubes.
• Inside body cavities: Sometimes, doctors make a tiny cut to insert the endoscope into areas that are normally closed, like:
  • The belly or pelvis area.
  • Inside a joint, like a knee or shoulder.
  • Organs in the chest.
• During pregnancy: To check the amnion (the sac around the baby) or even the baby itself.

Other uses for endoscopy

Endoscopes are not just for medical uses! They can also be helpful in other fields:

• Building design: Architects use endoscopes to see what models of buildings or cities would look like from the inside.
• Checking machines: They are used to inspect the inside of complicated machines and systems.
• Safety: bomb disposal teams use endoscopes to safely examine dangerous objects like improvised explosive devices.
• Law enforcement: The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) uses endoscopes to look into small, tight spaces for surveillance.

Images for kids

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  The part of the endoscope that the doctor holds and controls.

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  The very end of the endoscope that goes into the body.

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  Doctors performing an endoscopy surgery.

See also

In Spanish: Endoscopia para niños