What is the difference between a colonoscopy and an endoscopy?

I had a colonoscopy done 3 years ago, they went in through the rectum, I had a friend tell me that I should get an endoscopy where they go in through the mouth, I asked if this would reach my colon and he said yes, is this true too?

A colonoscope is run up through the rectum and up into the colon, (also called the large intestine.) It has a fibreoptic scope which has its own light source and the fiber optics line can bend internal light. The machine allows a gastroenterologist to examine the colon walls, for abnormal growths, cell pockets etc.
An endoscop is a fiberoptic tube that can be threaded down natural body conduits to view internal walls or tissues. It also has fiberoptic lines and can have tiny operating tools to cut and collect tissue samples for retrieval and later study (e.g. culturing, or microscopic examination.
They are used to examine the esophagus and stomach.
But they can, also, be threaded through incisions to study internal body parts such as under the knee cap (patella), and/or the cruciate ligaments of the knee.
They are also used in microsurgery. Microsurgery is replacing standard surgery for many operations. Because the incisions are tiny and only the affected organ-portion is worked on. For example, microscopic work can be done through the use of endoscopes and tools attached thereto to remove gall bladders , kidney stones, etc.leaving a one inch (or smaller), incision. Recovery time is dramatically reduced, much quicker than conventional surgery, scars are smaller, less anesthesia is needed, (sometime only local instead af general), etc.
Dan The Answers-Man.

no he's nuts,the colonoscopy does go through the rectum and the endoscopy through the mouth-BUT- the endoscopy does not go as far as the colon your friend needs to get his facts straight

i don't believe that is true. colonscopy, your right, goes through the rectum and looks at the yards of intestinal organs we have. whereas, endoscopy goes thru the mouth and looks at the stomach. (like for ulcers)

THe endoscopy does go in through the mouth, but NOT all the way to the colon. It generally is used to look at the esophogus, the stomach, and the small intestine.

no he is wrong the colonoscopy is for your rectum and the endoscopy can not get into your rectum from your mouth, with a colonoscopy they insert the camera and can view the lining of your rectum .

Colonoscopy goes through the bottom and endoscopy goes through the top. They may be able to get to the top of your bowels with endoscopy, it just depends on the physician and the patient and also, what they are looking for.

The difference between a colonoscopy and an endoscopy is that a colonoscopy is when the doctor sticks a scope through your rectem after they sudate you where you won't feel the pain. An endoscopy is when the doctor puts the scope down your throat and look at you orally and they spray that thing in your mouth into the throat and stomach. Plus they numb you up with Max anesthesia and shoot you up with a shot of good medicine to sudate you and put you to sleep where you won't feel the pain.

Both will reach to about your duodenum.

The difference is the end they go in. An endoscopy will not reach your colon – unless there's a new way of doing it that nobody told me about!

Colonoscopy is endoscopy for the colon. Endoscopy is for entering the body cavity. Inside the colon is anatomically speaking, not within the body cavity.

Thanks for my 1000th point!

A colonoscopy is a procedure that examines the lower GI tract and an endoscopy examines the upper GI (gastro-intestinal).

The endoscopy would only be useful to examine problems with your throat, espohagus, stomach and duodenum.

No the endoscopy only goes to the stomach and in some cases a bit farther, but there is no way on earth it could get to your colon.

http://www.scopex.com/?src=overture&OVRA…
http://www.colonsurgeryinfo.com/dtcf/

Endoscopy is used for Upper G.I. I doubt if it would reach ur colon

An endoscope is the instrument used to do a colonoscopy. It is used via the rectum. An endoscope can also be used to look in the esophagus and stomach and upper intestinal tract. It isn't called colonoscopy when it goes into the mouth …for obvious reasons.

friend is mistaken,endoscopy stops at opening to entrance of stomach,had one done monday,not bad at all,you will be asleep.hope test comes out ok for you:)

WHAT THE HECK IS UP WITH THAT PICTURE……..THATS THE MOST SCARIEST THING I EVA SEEN