Colposcope
/ˈkɒlpəskəʊp/noun
An instrument used to magnify and examine the vagina and cervix, especially for abnormal tissue.
Did you know?The colposcope was developed in 1925 by German gynecologist Hans Hinselmann to detect early cervical cancer, transforming magnification into a diagnostic tool.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
κόλπος (kolpos)
“Bosom, fold, hollow, bay, or—in anatomical usage—the vagina”
Ancient Greek
Greek
σκοπεῖν (skopein)
“To look at, examine, or observe”
19th Century
German
Kolposkop
“A medical viewing instrument formed from Greek kolpos and skopein”
1925
German
Kolposkop
“The instrument introduced by Hans Hinselmann for magnified examination of the cervix”
20th Century
English
colposcope
“A specialized optical instrument for examining the vagina and cervix”
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