Endoscopy means "looking inside" and typically refers to looking inside a hollow viscus or a body cavity using an instrument called an endoscope. The first "endoscopy" was performed in 1901 using a Nitze cystoscope on a dog. Shortly after this milestone, Jacobaeus in 1911, reported arxlominal and thoracic endoscopy on humans. In 1938, the first major technical advance occurred with the development of the Veress needle for insufflation. Additional instrumental developments followed with the invention of automatic insufflators, lighting systems, video systems, and computer chips.
Laparoscopy, also called minimally invasive surgery (MIS), or keyhole surgery, is a technique in which operations in the abdomen are performed through small incisions as compared to larger incisions needed in open surgery. Laparoscopic surgery includes operations within the abdominal or pelvic cavities.
Hysteroscopy is the inspection of the uterine cavity b endoscopy. It allows for the diagnosis of intrauterine pathology and serves as a method for surgical intervention (operative hysteroscopy).
