What term means visual examination of a joint?

• A. Arthroscopy
• B. Arthrodesis
• C. Arthroplasty
• D. Dorsiflexion

Answer: (A)

Visual examination of a joint is called arthroscopy. In this procedure, a small-diameter instrument called an arthroscope is inserted into the joint through a tiny incision, providing live video from inside the joint. This allows doctors to directly inspect structures like cartilage, ligaments, and the meniscus, and it can be used for both diagnosis and surgical treatment with smaller incisions than open surgery. It’s commonly used on joints such as the knee and shoulder.

The other terms refer to different concepts: arthrodesis is the surgical fusion of a joint to eliminate movement; arthroplasty is replacing the joint with an artificial one; and dorsiflexion is the movement of lifting the front of the foot toward the shin, not a method of examining a joint.