-scope
instrument for viewing
From Greek skopein, to examine, look into
Meaning
What does -scope mean?
-scope is a suffix meaning instrument for viewing. It comes from Greek skopein, to examine, look into.
The stethoscope is the odd one out: it is an instrument for listening to the chest, not for looking.
In real words
Medical words with -scope
a lighted instrument for examining the ear canal and the eardrum
ophthalmoscope
a lighted instrument used to look at the inside of the eye, including the retina and optic nerve
a lighted scope passed through the mouth to examine or operate on the larynx
a lighted tube-shaped instrument, often flexible, for looking inside a hollow organ such as the esophagus or bladder
a lighted magnifying instrument used to examine the cervix and vagina
an instrument with lenses that makes enlarged images of objects too small to see with the eye
a thin lighted tube with a lens, passed through the abdominal wall to look at the organs inside
Don't mix it up
Parts easily confused with -scope
Sources
Checked against
Written for biofideX in plain words, after checking these references:
- Suffixes – Medical Terminology: An Interactive Approach
- SCOPE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
- -scope - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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Tests and instruments
-scope is one of 8 parts in this lesson. Learn them together, then take real words apart.
Start the Lesson