What Is an Endoscopy?
Health ConditionsDigestive Health

What Is an Endoscopy?

This procedure uses different approaches to look at internal organs and tissues.
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Updated on September 30, 2023
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An endoscopy is a procedure that’s performed to look inside the body at a specific organ to detect a range of conditions and diseases.

Your doctor will insert an endoscope into your body through an entryway (mouth, anus, vagina, nose, or urethra) or through an incision, notes MedlinePlus.

What Is an Endoscope?

An endoscope is an instrument designed to look at different parts of the body. The instrument comes in different shapes and lengths, according to Cancer.Net.

Most are thin, hollow, flexible tubes that have a light attached. Some also come with a tiny video camera attached that transmits images to a computer.

The newest versions of endoscopes, known as capsule endoscopes, are small enough to be swallowed and send images wirelessly to a computer.

Types of Endoscopies

Per Cancer.Net, the types of endoscopies include:

  • Arthroscopy Used to examine your joints.
  • Bronchoscopy Used to examine the trachea and bronchi through your mouth or nose.
  • Colonoscopy Used to examine your colon and large intestines through your anus.
  • Cystoscopy Used to examine your bladder through your urethra.
  • Enteroscopy Used to examine your small intestines via your mouth or anus.
  • Gastroscopy or Upper Endoscopy Used to examine your stomach, esophagus, and duodenum via your mouth, using an esophagogastroduodenoscope.
  • Hysteroscopy Used to to examine the uterus by passing a hysteroscope through the vagina and cervix.
  • Laparoscopy Used to examine the organs and tissues of your abdomen and pelvis via an incision in your abdomen.
  • Laryngoscopy Used to examine your larynx via your mouth or nose.
  • Mediastinoscopy Used to examine the space between your lungs via an incision above your sternum.
  • Sigmoidoscopy Used to examine your rectum and lower part of your large colon via your anus.
  • Thoracoscopy Used to examine your chest cavity and its contents (your lungs and the covering of the lungs) via an incision in your chest.


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Natalia Johnsen, MD

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Member of American College of Lifestyle Medicine

Natalia Johnsen, MD, is a triple board-certified physician in internal medicine, lifestyle medicine, and obesity medicine, practicing as an internist and consultant at the Vancouver Clinic in Vancouver, Washington.

Dr. Johnsen began her medical career as an ob-gyn in Russia before relocating to the United States in 2000. She completed her internal medicine internship at the University of Nevada and her residency at a Stanford-affiliated program in Santa Clara, California.

Deeply interested in the impact of lifestyle on both physical and mental health, Johnsen transitioned her focus toward prevention-based care after witnessing how many chronic conditions could be avoided or improved through lifestyle interventions. She became board-certified in lifestyle medicine in 2021 and further expanded her expertise by earning board certification in obesity medicine in 2025.

Johnsen is passionate about empowering patients with evidence-based tools to achieve sustainable health and long-term well-being.

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Anne is a graduate of Syracuse University and a Washington D.C. native.

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