Sigmoidoscopy is the examination of what part of the body?

Sigmoidoscopy is a medical procedure specifically designed to examine the sigmoid colon, which is the lower part of the large intestine leading to the rectum. During this procedure, a flexible tube called a sigmoidoscope is inserted into the rectum and advanced into the sigmoid colon. This allows the physician to visualize the interior lining of these areas, which can be essential for diagnosing conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, or polyps.

The other choices refer to different parts of the digestive system. The stomach is the organ responsible for breaking down food; the small intestine is where most nutrient absorption occurs; and the liver plays a crucial role in metabolism and detoxification but is not involved in direct examination during a sigmoidoscopy. Thus, the correct answer highlights the specific focus of the procedure on the colon, particularly the sigmoid portion.