'rectoscopy' originates from New Latin/modern medical formation, specifically the combining element 'recto-' from Latin 'rectum', where 'rectum' meant 'straight', and the Greek word 'skopein', where 'skopein' meant 'to look' or 'to examine'.

'rectoscopy' changed from New Latin 'rectoscopia' (and similar coinages in medical Latin) and eventually became the modern English word 'rectoscopy'.

Initially, it meant 'viewing or examination of the rectum', and over time it has retained that specialized meaning as 'examination of the rectum using a scope'.