An Analysis to Understand the Anatomy of Surgical Instruments

Surgeons use a wide variety of surgical instruments in operating rooms that contribute to various surgical procedures. Each surgical tool has a specific structure and features. For a surgeon, it is necessary to thoroughly understand the anatomy of surgical instruments.

It is every surgeon’s prior responsibility to perform successful surgeries. However, they can improve their practice by learning more about the tool’s features and its use in surgical procedures. A better understanding of surgical instruments and their functions can significantly improve surgery.

In this article, you will get to learn about the anatomy of basic surgical instruments used in surgical procedures.

Basic Instruments Used in Surgeries

There are some commonly used surgical instruments that surgeons use in many procedures. Every instrument has a basic design with some specific features. The basic structural elements of surgical instruments are finger rings, ratchets, shanks, joints, and box locks. The tip of the instrument has variable categories on the basis of serrations, teeth, blades, curvatures, length, and so on.

The function that an instrument will eventually serve determines its overall design. Also, a single surgical tool is available with different variations, like straight or curved blades. Therefore, the tool selection purely depends on the operator’s requirements and preferences.

Let’s discuss the features and functions of some commonly used tools in surgeries.

Surgical Scissors

Surgical scissors are multipurpose instruments with a standard structure. They are basic surgical instruments mainly used for cutting tissues and other surgical materials.

•    Features

The scissors' design consists of finger ring handles connected to a shank via a box lock. The tip of the instrument can be straight or curved. Moreover, they are available with blunt and delicate tips. Different surgeries require different scissors depending upon the purpose of use. Some scissors have a ratchet lock system that provides ease for the surgeon. Also, the scissors are categorized based on their variability in designs and sizes.

•    Functions

Surgical scissors are useful for cutting body tissues outside or inside the body. They are also ideal for cutting in the operating room and suture material. Surgeons use sharp blade scissors for the cutting of hard tissues. For delicate tissue cutting, they prefer to use delicate scissors. The use of straight, curved, or angled scissors also depends on the area and type of surgery.

Surgical Retractors

Surgical retractors are the primary tools that surgeons use in most surgeries. That’s why it is very important to know and understand how they are useful in surgeries.

•    Features

The basic structure of the retractor consists of finger ring handles or straight handles with different tips. The tip of the tool can be blunt or sharp. Also, it has a ratchet lock system to lock the instrument in place for satisfactory operations.

Some retractors with a similar shape have a single sharp spike on end. They can also be double-ended instruments with one long and another short end. Besides, there are some malleable retractors that surgeons can modify according to their needs.

•    Functions

Retractors’ main function is to hold the tissues open during surgeries. These tools help to keep the incision open in such a way that the superficial tissues can be retracted. Surgeons commonly use them in hernia repair operations, breast biopsies, and neck surgeries.
Its self-retaining structure with the ratchet keeps the wound open while maintaining self-retraction. It helps surgeons’ hands to be free during surgeries, so they can comfortably perform other operational tasks.

Surgical Needles

Surgical needles are small implements used during and after surgery to sew stitches into various types of tissue.

•    Features

The main features of surgical needles include edge type, needle shape, ductility, point sharpness, and strength. The needle should be strong enough to pass through the tissue without changing shape or breaking after repeated passes. The sharpness of the needle allows the surgeon to maintain control of the needle while using as little force as necessary to penetrate the tissue.

•    Functions

The surgical needle’s role is to precisely place the suture material at the wound’s edge to oppose the tissue edges and carry the material through the tissue. Surgeons choose a surgical needle based on the procedure, the tissue being sutured, and the suture material size.

Surgical Forceps

Surgical forceps are the general surgery tools that surgeons encounter in many surgeries. it is an ideal shape instrument

•    Features 

Generally, the forceps consist of serrated jaws with smooth or toothed ends. It has finger ring handles along with the ratchet mechanism. The tips of the forceps can be straight or curved, with smooth, blunt, semi-blunt, sharp teethed ends.  

•    Functions

Generally, forceps are useful for holding and manipulating tissues during surgeries. Some toothed tip forceps help to firmly grasp the hard tissues. However, the jawed forceps with smooth ends are ideal for holding delicate structures with minimal tissue loss. These are also used by surgeons to grasp vessels before ligation.

Final Words

Every surgical instrument has a unique design for a specific surgical application. Therefore, the proper use of tools can improve the efficiency of surgeries. For this reason, surgeons should carefully understand the anatomy of different surgical instruments. Understanding this teaches practitioners to select the correct tool with exact variations.

You can contact GerMedUSA to obtain the tools for an exact match. We offer a wide range of surgical instruments in various configurations. You can also contact us to have your desired surgical instruments customized. All our instruments are made of high-quality German stainless steel, ideal for long-term use.

FAQs

What Types of Scissors Are Useful for Surgery?

There are a variety of scissors available with blunt or delicate blades that can be straight or curved. Surgeons typically use sharp-bladed scissors for hard tissue cutting and delicate scissors for soft tissue cutting.

Why Do Surgeons Use Surgical Retractors?

During surgery, surgeons use retractors to hold and retract tissues. The most common self-retaining retractors hold back tissues from the surgical site so that the operator can perform the procedures comfortably.

What Tools Do Surgeons Use to Make Incisions?

The common tools for cutting purposes are surgical scissors, blades, and scalpels. Surgical scalpels are specifically for the incision of internal tissues and organs.