Bronchoscopy is a medical procedure that involves the examination of the bronchi or air passages in the lungs. The word "bronchoscopy" is spelled using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as /brɒŋˈkɒskəpi/. This phonetic transcription represents the correct pronunciation of the word, with the stress placed on the second syllable "kosk". The word is derived from the Greek terms "bronkhia", meaning "windpipe", and "skopein", meaning "to see". Therefore, bronchoscopy refers to a medical procedure that allows doctors to visualize the inside of the air passages using a bronchoscope.
Bronchoscopy is a medical procedure that involves the examination and evaluation of the bronchi, which are the large airways leading from the trachea (windpipe) into the lungs. It is a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure commonly performed by pulmonary specialists (pulmonologists) or respiratory therapists.
During bronchoscopy, a flexible, illuminated tube called a bronchoscope is inserted through the nose or mouth and down into the airways. The bronchoscope is equipped with a light source and a camera that allows the physician to visualize the bronchial passages on a monitor. It may also have channels for the insertion of tiny surgical instruments to collect tissue samples for biopsy, remove blockages, or treat certain conditions.
There are two types of bronchoscopy: flexible bronchoscopy and rigid bronchoscopy. Flexible bronchoscopy is the more common and less invasive technique, while rigid bronchoscopy is used for more complex cases and is often performed under general anesthesia.
Bronchoscopy is used for various purposes, including the diagnosis and staging of lung diseases, detection of tumors or foreign objects in the airways, assessment of lung infections, evaluation of chronic cough or hemoptysis (coughing up blood), and management of certain lung conditions like lung cancer or tuberculosis.
Overall, bronchoscopy is a valuable tool that allows the physician to directly visualize, diagnose, and treat disorders affecting the bronchial tubes, leading to improved patient care and outcomes.
Inspection of the interior of a bronchus.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word bronchoscopy is derived from Greek roots. It can be broken down into two parts:
1. Broncho- comes from the Greek word bronchos, which means windpipe or airway.
2. -scopy is derived from the Greek word skopein, which means to look at or to examine.
Therefore, bronchoscopy literally means to examine the airway.