Etymed
colposcopy
Definition
A medical procedure using a colposcope to examine the vagina and cervix in detail
Clinical context
A 28-year-old woman presents with abnormal Papanicolaou (Pap) smear results showing atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance. Her healthcare provider recommends colposcopy to directly visualize the cervical epithelium and identify any suspicious lesions that may require biopsy.
Mnemonic
COLPOS copy - COLOny of Squamous cells on a POSitive result
These morphemes also unlock…
- colp/o — vagina
- o — combining vowel
- scop/o — instrument for viewing
- y — suffix indicating process or action