A system for removing a tissue specimen through a body opening, comprising: a containment bag (18, 70, 310, 1000) configured to define an interior; the containment bag (18, 70, 310, 1000) having a first end and a second end; the containment bag (18, 70, 310, 1000) including a bag opening (20, 80, 312, 1004) at the first end leading into and interconnected with the interior; the bag opening (20, 80, 312, 1004) being sized and configured to receive a tissue specimen; a protection zone (28, 200, 700) encompassing at least part of the interior of the containment bag and extending along at least part of the containment bag (18, 70, 310, 1000) between the opening (20, 80, 312, 1004) and second end defining a protected lumen; the protection zone (28, 200, 700) having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis; wherein the protection zone (28, 200, 700) is configured to prevent penetration of the containment bag (18, 70, 310, 1000); and wherein the containment bag (18, 70, 310, 1000) and the protection zone (28, 200, 700) define a removal pathway for a tissue specimen located in the interior of the containment bag (18, 70, 310, 1000) that includes through the protected lumen and out the bag opening (20, 80, 312, 1004); wherein the protection zone is movable between an expanded elongate configuration and a compressed configuration; characterized in that the expanded elongate configuration is convertible into the compressed configuration by overlapping an inner surface of the protection zone onto an outer surface of the protection zone such that at least a portion of the protection zone is nested in a concavity of the outer surface of an adjacent overlapping portion of the protection zone. a containment bag (18, 70, 310, 1000) configured to define an interior; the containment bag (18, 70, 310, 1000) having a first end and a second end; the containment bag (18, 70, 310, 1000) including a bag opening (20, 80, 312, 1004) at the first end leading into and interconnected with the interior; the bag opening (20, 80, 312, 1004) being sized and configured to receive a tissue specimen; a protection zone (28, 200, 700) encompassing at least part of the interior of the containment bag and extending along at least part of the containment bag (18, 70, 310, 1000) between the opening (20, 80, 312, 1004) and second end defining a protected lumen; the protection zone (28, 200, 700) having a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis; wherein the protection zone (28, 200, 700) is configured to prevent penetration of the containment bag (18, 70, 310, 1000); and wherein the containment bag (18, 70, 310, 1000) and the protection zone (28, 200, 700) define a removal pathway for a tissue specimen located in the interior of the containment bag (18, 70, 310, 1000) that includes through the protected lumen and out the bag opening (20, 80, 312, 1004); wherein the protection zone is movable between an expanded elongate configuration and a compressed configuration; characterized in that the expanded elongate configuration is convertible into the compressed configuration by overlapping an inner surface of the protection zone onto an outer surface of the protection zone such that at least a portion of the protection zone is nested in a concavity of the outer surface of an adjacent overlapping portion of the protection zone.