Which areas are accessible by colonoscopy?

Which areas are accessible by colonoscopy?

• A. Colon and often ileum
• B. Only colon
• C. Colon and jejunum
• D. Ileum and colon

Answer: (A)

Colonoscopy primarily examines the colon, and in many cases the terminal portion of the small intestine called the terminal ileum as well. The instrument is inserted through the rectum and navigates through the colon to the ileocecal valve, where it can sometimes pass into the terminal ileum to inspect that area. The jejunum, however, is not typically accessible with a standard colonoscope; reaching it requires specialized enteroscopy techniques. This is why the correct statement is that colonoscopy examines the colon and, often, the terminal ileum.

Colonoscopy primarily examines the colon, and in many cases the terminal portion of the small intestine called the terminal ileum as well. The instrument is inserted through the rectum and navigates through the colon to the ileocecal valve, where it can sometimes pass into the terminal ileum to inspect that area. The jejunum, however, is not typically accessible with a standard colonoscope; reaching it requires specialized enteroscopy techniques. This is why the correct statement is that colonoscopy examines the colon and, often, the terminal ileum.