laparoscope

[ lap-er-uh-skohp ]

noun

, Surgery.

1. a flexible fiberoptic instrument, passed through a small incision in the abdominal wall and equipped with biopsy forceps, an obturator, scissors or the like, with which to examine the abdominal cavity or perform minor surgery.

laparoscope

/ ˈlæpərəˌskəʊp /

noun

1. a medical instrument consisting of a tube that is inserted through the abdominal wall and illuminated to enable a doctor to view the internal organs

laparoscope

/ lăp′ər-ə-skōp′ /

1. A slender, tubular endoscope that is inserted through an incision in the abdominal wall to examine or perform minor surgery within the abdomen or pelvis.

laparoscope

1. A surgical device that uses optical fibers in a small tube. Inserted into the abdomen, the laparoscope allows surgery without large incisions.

Notes

Laparoscopic surgery is often referred to as “Band-Aid” surgery because it requires only small incisions.

Derived Forms

• ˌlapaˈroscopy, noun
• ˌlaparoˈscopic, adjective

Other Words From

• lap·a·ro·scop·ic [lap, -er-, uh, -, skop, -ik], adjective
• lap·a·ros·co·pist [lap-, uh, -, ros, -k, uh, -pist], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of laparoscope¹

First recorded in 1850–55; laparo- + -scope

Word History and Origins

Origin of laparoscope¹

C19 (applied to various instruments used to examine the abdomen) and C20 (in the specific modern sense): from Greek lapara (see laparotomy ) + -scope