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bronchoscope

bronchoscope

1 8.8
A thin tube with a light and camera used to look inside the airways
  • noun
  • /ˈbrɒŋkəˌskoʊp/
  • Specialized
translation icon : broncoscopio
  • During the procedure, the surgeon inserted a bronchoscope to collect tissue samples from the lungs.

Examples

  • Traditionally, when doctors insert a conventional bronchoscope into the patient to examine the lungs, the devices are used in concert with a flat CT image.

    Academic text (2004)
  • A rigid bronchoscope, which was kept ready by the ENT surgeons, was introduced and the airway dilated with it.

    Academic text (2007)
  • To guide the bronchoscope, the system features software that generates the patient's original CT images in three dimensions.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The miniaturized, long bronchoscope includes what Besser calls a localization center on its tip.

    Academic text (2004)
  • As the bronchoscope reaches one, the physician inserts tools to take samples for biopsy, Besser said.

    Academic text (2004)
  • In the second case, the glottic opening was so small that it had to be dilated with a rigid bronchoscope to permit tracheal intubation.

    Academic text (2007)
  • In some patients with marked airway pathology, awake tracheal intubation utilizing a fiberoptic bronchoscope may be recommended (Moos et al., 2005).

    Academic text (2006)
  • The doctor used a bronchoscope to closely examine the patient's bronchial tubes for any signs of infection.

  • In order to diagnose the issue, the pulmonologist recommended a bronchoscope for a detailed view of the airways.

Surface Forms

bronchoscope singular
bronchoscopes plural

Morphology

bronchoscope = broncho + scope

The word is built compositionally from the medical combining form broncho- and -scope 'instrument for viewing', but the specialized medical meaning is not fully obvious to an average learner.

Etymology

The word bronchoscope breaks into broncho- 'windpipe' and -scope 'to look', the same -scope you see in telescope and microscope. So a bronchoscope is a thin tube doctors use to look inside the bronchial tubes or airways.