General Glossary
- Bistourysearch for term
A long, narrow knife with a straight or curved blade for opening cavities. (F. bistouri, dagger) A bistoury cache is a spring loaded, double bladed instrument used in Urology.
- Bougiesearch for term
A cylindrical instrument used for dilating tubular organs, such as the urethra or esophagus. (F. Bougie, an Algerian seaport from which candles were imported).
c- Catlinsearch for term
A long, double-edged knife, often used in amputations.
- Cephalotribesearch for term
Forcepslike instrument with a screw handle, used to crush the head in fetal abortion. (G. kephale, the head + G. tribo, to bruise).
- Clyster (clysis)search for term
An enema used for rectal administration of medications. (G. klyster, to wash out).
- Counterirritantsearch for term
A substance or device that irritates one area of the body presumably to relieve pain in another part.
- Cranioclastsearch for term
A strong forceps used for crushing and extracting the fetal head after perforation. (G. kranion, skull + G. klao, to break in pieces).
- Crochetsearch for term
A hooked instrument used for removing an aborted fetus. (F. croche, hook).
- Cupping (wet and dry)search for term
The act of applying a heated cup to bring blood to the skin to act as a counterirritant (dry), or to bleed (wet).
d- Dental Keysearch for term
A key shaped instrument used to remove teeth.
- Diathermysearch for term
Local elevation of temperature of tissues by high frequency current, ultrasonic waves, or microwave radiation for therapy. (G. dia, through, + therme, heat).
e- Ecraseursearch for term
Instrument used to crush tissue. (F. ecraser, to crush).
- Electrostatic Generatorsearch for term
A therapeutic device that creates static electricity.
- Elevator (dental or neurosurgical)search for term
An instrument used to lift a tooth or piece of bone. (L. e-levo, to lift up)
- Etuisearch for term
A small pocket case for instruments. (F. estuier, to preserve).
f- Fleamsearch for term
A sharp lancet for bloodletting. (G. phleb, vein + tomon, to cut).
- Forceps (bullet, dental, lithotomy, obstetric)search for term
An instrument to grasp a structure, for compression or traction. (L. formus, hot + ceps, to take).
g- Gorgetsearch for term
A director or guide with a wide groove used in lithotomy. (ME. gorge, throat)
h- Hey’s Sawsearch for term
Neurosurgical instrument for removal of a section of the skull. (Dr. William Hey)
i- Ivorinesearch for term
A trademark substance resembling ivory.
l- Lancet (gum, spring, thumb)search for term
A surgical knife with a short, wide, two-edged blade. (F. lancette)
- Lenticularsearch for term
Neurosurgical instrument used to elevate fragments of skull. (L. lenticula, a lentil)
- Lithoclast (lithotrite)search for term
An instrument used to crush a urinary stone. (G. lithos, stone + G. klastos, broken or L. Tritus, to rub).
o- Ophthalmoscopesearch for term
A device for studying the interior of the eye through the pupil. (G. ophthalmos relationship to the eye + G. skopeo, to examine).
- Otoscopesearch for term
An instrument for examining the eardrum. (G. ous, ear + G. skopea, to view).
- Ozone Generatorsearch for term
A form of oxygen (O3) that is produced by a static charge and was thought to have health benefits. (G. ozein, to smell)
p- Papboatsearch for term
A boat-shaped dish used to hold pap (a soft food for infants). (L. pappa, food)
- Percussorsearch for term
A small hammer used to tap part of the body in order to determine density. (L. percussio, to beat).
- Perforatorsearch for term
An obstetric instrument for making a bony opening through the cranium in abortion. (L. perforare, to bore through).
- Pessarysearch for term
An appliance introduced into the vagina to support the uterus. (L. pessarium, from G. pessos, an oval stone used in certain games).
- Phrenologysearch for term
The appearance of the skull reflects enlargements of parts of the brain, and thus character – according to FJ Gall. (L. phren, mind)
- Physiognomysearch for term
The study of personality by appearance. (G. physi, nature + gnomon, interpreter).
- Pleximetersearch for term
An oblong plate placed on the body and struck with a percussor. (G. plesso, to strike, + metron, measure)
- Probangsearch for term
A flexible rod with a soft tip to advance or retrieve an esophageal foreign body. (from provang, by inventor Walter Rumsey)
s- Scalpelsearch for term
A knife used in surgical dissection. (L. scalprum, a knife)
- Scarificatorsearch for term
An instrument for making multiple superficial incisions in the skin for wet cupping. (L. scarifico, to sctatch).
- Shagreensearch for term
A dyed, untanned leather or sharkskin used for etuis or lancet cases.
- Soundsearch for term
An elongated, cylindrical instrument, used for exploring, dilating, or detecting a foreign body in a cavity or canal (usually urethra, or esophagus).
- Speculumsearch for term
An instrument for opening a canal or cavity for inspection. (L. a mirror, from specio, to look at)
- Stypticsearch for term
A device or instrument to stop bleeding (L. stypticus, to contract)
t- Tenaculumsearch for term
A hooked instrument used to hold a vessel that is to be tied off. (L. teneo, to hold)
- Tortoise Shellsearch for term
Horny (or artificial) plate from a turtle that was used in 19th century instruments.
- Trephinesearch for term
A “T” shaped instrument used for removing a disk of bone, usually from the skull, also a verb. (L. tres fines, three ends)
- Trocarsearch for term
A sharp instrument with a three cornered tip that fits into a cannula, used to remove fluid from a cavity. (F. trocart, from trois, three, + carre, side of a sword blade).
v- Vectissearch for term
A single bladed curved instrument used to aid in delivery. (L. a lever or bar)
- Venesectionsearch for term
Therapeutic bleeding. (L. vena, vein + sectio, a cuttng).
…- …otomysearch for term
(G. tomos, cutting) – craniotomy (G. kranion, skull), lithotomy (G. lithos, stone).
- …tomesearch for term
(G. tomos, cutting) – rachitome (G. rachis, spine), tonsillotome (L. tonsilla), urethretome (G. ourethra).