Abstract: An endoscopic portal for establishing communication with a body cavity for the introduction of instruments through the endoscopic portal includes a seal having a variable size passage for communication with the body cavity to permit instruments of varying sizes to be passed therethrough and a tubular expander aligned with the variable size passage. The seal is biased to a contracted position wherein the variable size passage has a first cross sectional size and is movable to an expanded position wherein the variable size passage has a second cross sectional size larger than the first cross sectional size. The tubular expander has a blunt end insertable in the variable size passage to move the seal from the contracted position to the expanded position such that an instrument having a cross sectional size larger than the first cross sectional size can be introduced through the expander and the seal into the body cavity without contacting the seal.