An instrument consisting, essentially, of a rigid or flexible cylinder, an eyepiece and a light source, which is inserted through a small incision into the abdominal cavity (which has already been distended with carbon dioxide gas). The laparoscope allows the contents of the abdominal cavity to be examined without performing a LAPAROTOMY. Some operations may be performed using the laparoscope to guide the manipulation of instruments inserted through another small incision – for example, STERILISATION; CHOLECYSTECTOMY. (See also ENDOSCOPE; MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY (MIS).)