Two cylindrical-shaped glass specula Specula come in a variety of shapes based on their purpose, and a variety of sizes; in any case the cylinder or blade(s) of the instrument allow the operator a direct vision of the area of interest and the possibility to introduce instruments for further interventions such as a biopsy. Vaginal use The best-known<unk> is the bivalved vaginal<unk>  the two blades are hinged and are "closed" when the<unk> is inserted to facilitate its entry and "opened" in its final position where they can be arrested by a screw mechanism, so that the operator is freed from keeping the blades apart. A cylindrical-shaped<unk>  introduced in 2001, the dilating vaginal<unk> (also known as the Veda-scope) invented by Clemens van der Weegen, inflates the vagina with filtered air. (see diagram) The device has two main functions: a) to take a normal Pap smear with a cervical brush or a cytology brush; and b) as an internal colposcope so that the operator can pivot the Veda-scope to view any part of the vagina barrel and cervix facilitated by an internal light source that can illuminate the vaginal wall and cervix with multi-coloured light filters, which can detect pre-cancerous cells with the aid of acetic acid solution and iodine solution. It also has a facility to attach a digital camera for viewing and recording. Dilating vaginal<unk> inflating vagina and light illuminating (cervical brush inserts through top inlet) A specialized form of vaginal<unk> is the weighted<unk>  which consists of a broad half tube which is bent at about a 90 degree angle, with the channel of the tube on the exterior side of the angle. One end of the tube has a roughly spherical metal weight surrounding the channel of the<unk>  A weighted<unk> is placed in the vagina during vaginal surgery with the patient in the lithotomy position. The weight holds the<unk> in place and frees the surgeon's hands for other tasks. A vaginal<unk> is also used in fertility treatments, particularly artificial insemination, and allows the vaginal cavity to be opened and observed thereby facilitating the deposit of semen into the vagina. ;Cylindrical shape * Ferguson * Glass<unk> * Veda-scope (dilating vaginal<unk>  ;One blade The single-bladed Sims<unk> is still in use today. * Auvard * Breisky * Doyen * Eastman * Jackson * Kallmorgen * Kristeller * Landau * Martin * Mathieu * Polansky * Samuel * Scherbak * Sims * Weissbarth ;Two blades (bivalved) Medical instrument Duckbill shape of a two-bladed<unk> * Collin * Cusco * DeVilbiss * Grave * Pederson * Semm * Seyffert * Trelat * Winterton ;Three blades * Guttmann * Nott * O´Sullivan-O´Connor * Polansky (veterinary use) Rectal use Vaginal specula are also used for anal surgery, although several other forms of anal specula exist. One form, the anoscope, resembles a tube that has a removable bullet-shaped insert. When the anoscope is inserted into the anus, the insert dilates the anus to the diameter of the tube. The insert is then removed, leaving the tube to allow examination of the lower rectum and anus. This style of anal<unk> is one of the oldest designs for surgical instruments still in use, with examples dating back many centuries. The sigmoidoscope can be further advanced into the lower intestinal tract and requires an endoscopic set-up. ;Tubal shape * Aniscope ;One blade * Czerny ;Two blades * Barr * Bodenhammer * Killian * Pratt * Ricord * Roschke * Sims * Smith-Buie ;Three blades * Alan Park * Cook * Mathieu Nasal use Two examples of nasal specula: ancient and modern Nasal specula have two relatively flat blades with handle. The instrument is hinged so that when the handles are squeezed together the blades spread laterally, allowing examination. * Killian *Cottle * Vienna * Voltolini * Yankauer Additionally, the Thudichum nasal<unk> is commonly used in the outpatient examination of the nose. Aural use Ear specula are funnel-shaped. Ear or aural specula resemble a funnel, and come in a variety of sizes. * Aural<unk> *Farrior Ear<unk> Oral use In veterinary medicine, a McPherson<unk> can be used for oral examination. The<unk> helps keep the mouth open during the exam and helps avoid biting injuries.
Speculum 
Dermatophyte
Biofilm
Exudate
Aqueous humour
Fecalith
Papule
Feces