Speculum

An instrument used to widen an opening to look within a passage or a cavity. For example, a speculum may be used to widen the opening of the vagina so that the cervix is more easily visible. Other examples include the nasal speculum to look up into the nostrils and the ear speculum to look within the ear canal at the ear drum. The term "speculum" is the Latin word for mirror.

* * *

An instrument for exposing the opening of any canal or cavity in order to facilitate inspection of its interior. [L. a mirror, fr. specio, to look at]

- bivalve s. a s. with two adjustable blades.

- Cooke s. a three-pronged s. for rectal examinations and operations.

- duckbill s. a bivalve s., the blades of which are broad and flattened, resembling a duck's bill, used in inspection of the vagina and cervix.

- eye s. an instrument for keeping the eyelids apart during inspection of or operation on the eye. SYN: blepharostat.

- Kelly rectal s. a tubular s. with obturator for rectal examination.

- Pedersen s. a narrow flat s. used in vaginas with a narrow introitus.

- stop-s. a dilating s., as a s. of the eyelids, which is provided with a catch to prevent its being opened too wide.

* * *

spec·u·lum 'spek-yə-ləm n, pl -la -lə also -lums any of various instruments for insertion into a body passage to facilitate visual inspection or medication <a vaginal \speculum>

* * *

n. (pl. specula)

a metal instrument for inserting into and holding open a cavity of the body, such as the vagina, rectum, or nasal orifice, in order that the interior may be examined.

* * *

spec·u·lum (spekґu-ləm) pl. specґula [L. “mirror”] an instrument that exposes the interior of a passage or cavity of the body by enlarging the opening.

Nasal specula.