An apparatus comprising: a first lens , configured to receive light output from a distal end of an optical fiber and emit the light as collimated light; a transmission diffraction grating , that is configured to receive the collimated light and diffract the collimated light as diffracted light; a second lens , that is optically coupled to the transmission diffraction grating , , and is configured to receive the diffracted light from the transmission diffraction grating , and focus the diffracted light toward an anatomical structure as a plurality of distinct beams each corresponding to a respective wavelength of a plurality of distinct wavelengths, receive backscattered light from a plurality of points, and emit the backscattered light toward the diffraction grating; and a variable focusing mechanism , that is disposed between the first lens , and the transmission diffraction grating , , and is configured to adjust a focal plane of the second lens; and configured to continuously scan an entire region of at least one portion of the anatomical structure using the plurality of distinct beams to generate at least one particular signal, wherein the entire region has an area that is greater than 1 mm 2 ; wherein the transmission diffraction grating , receives the backscattered light emitted from the second lens , , and forwards the backscattered light toward the first lens , via the variable focusing mechanism , , and the first lens , focuses the backscattered light toward the distal end of the optical fiber ; and an arrangement , , configured to receive the particular signal and to generate at least one image based on the particular signal that has a transverse resolution that is better than 10μm, wherein the apparatus comprises a confocal microscope arrangement, and the particular signal is a spectrally-encoded signal. a first lens , configured to receive light output from a distal end of an optical fiber and emit the light as collimated light; a transmission diffraction grating , that is configured to receive the collimated light and diffract the collimated light as diffracted light; a second lens , that is optically coupled to the transmission diffraction grating , , and is configured to receive the diffracted light from the transmission diffraction grating , and focus the diffracted light toward an anatomical structure as a plurality of distinct beams each corresponding to a respective wavelength of a plurality of distinct wavelengths, receive backscattered light from a plurality of points, and emit the backscattered light toward the diffraction grating; and a variable focusing mechanism , that is disposed between the first lens , and the transmission diffraction grating , , and is configured to adjust a focal plane of the second lens; and configured to continuously scan an entire region of at least one portion of the anatomical structure using the plurality of distinct beams to generate at least one particular signal, wherein the entire region has an area that is greater than 1 mm 2 ; wherein the transmission diffraction grating , receives the backscattered light emitted from the second lens , , and forwards the backscattered light toward the first lens , via the variable focusing mechanism , , and the first lens , focuses the backscattered light toward the distal end of the optical fiber ; and an arrangement , , configured to receive the particular signal and to generate at least one image based on the particular signal that has a transverse resolution that is better than 10μm, wherein the apparatus comprises a confocal microscope arrangement, and the particular signal is a spectrally-encoded signal. <EOS>