Basic OR Instruments

1. Clamping Instruments- Clamping instruments are primarily used for hemostasis, meaning they
temporarily stop bleeding by clamping blood vessels or tissues during surgery.
Straight Name & Purpose Curved Curved Variant
Notes
PEAN
Used to clamp
A heavier hemostatic
deep blood
clamp used to secure
vessels or
larger blood vessels
tissues within
or thick tissue
body cavities
bundles. Because it
where curved
has stronger
access allows
serrations, it is useful
easier
when stronger
manipulation
pressure is needed to
and hemostasis.
stop bleeding.

Used for the

KELLY same purpose as
Used to clamp the straight
medium-sized blood Kelly but
vessels or tissue to designed with a
control bleeding curved tip,
before the vessel is making it easier
tied off (ligated). The to clamp vessels
straight shape is deeper inside
usually used for the surgical
superficial field without
structures. obstructing the
surgeon’s view.

MOSQUITO
A small delicate
clamp used to control
bleeding from very
Curved for tight
small blood vessels. It
or angled
is commonly used in
dissection areas.
fine or delicate
procedures where
larger clamps would
be too big.

2. Forceps - are instruments used to grasp, hold, or manipulate tissues, dressings, or surgical
materials during procedures.
Instrument Name & Instrument Name &
Purpose Purpose
BABCOCK
FORCEPS
Designed with
SPONGE
smooth rounded
FORCEPS
tips to hold
Holds gauze
delicate tissues
sponges for
like the
wound
intestines,
packing and
fallopian tubes,
surgical prep.
or appendix
without
crushing them.
TISSUE
FORCEPS
TISSUE
(WITH
FORCEPS
TEETH)
(W/OUT
Used to grasp
TEETH)
tough tissues
Used to handle
such as skin
delicate tissues
or fascia
or dressings
firmly during
without causing
suturing or
trauma.
wound
closure.
LONG
THUMB
FORCEPS
Similar to
regular thumb
MAGILL
forceps but
FORCEPS
longer,
Used mainly in
allowing the
airway
surgeon to
procedures to
handle
guide or
tissues or
position an
materials
endotracheal
while
tube or
keeping
nasogastric
hands
tube into the
farther from
airway or
the surgical
esophagus.
field, which
helps
maintain
visibility and
sterility
 PENNINGTON
FORCEPS
ALLIS Also called
FORCEPS triangle forceps;
Serrated used to grasp or
interlocking stabilize tissues
jaws grip firm such as the
tissue uterus, cervix,
securely. or surgical
dressings during
procedures.

TOWEL CLIPS
Sharp-pointed clamps used to secure surgical drapes to the
patient’s skin, keeping the sterile field in place during surgery.

DELIVERY FORCEPS
Obstetric forceps; assists delivery of fetal head during dystocia.

3. Bone Instruments - These instruments are used during orthopedic procedures involving bones
and skeletal structures.
Straight Name & Purpose

BONE FILE
Used to smooth and refine rough or uneven bone surfaces
after bone has been cut during surgery.

PERIOSTEAL ELEVATOR
used to lift and separate the periosteum (the membrane
covering the bone) from the bone surface, allowing
surgeons access to the bone itself.

BONE CURETTE
Used to scrape or remove diseased, damaged, or infected
bone tissue.

RONGEUR
A heavy-duty instrument used to bite off and remove small
pieces of bone, commonly used when shaping bone or
removing bone fragments.
SCREW DRIVER
Drives and removes orthopedic bone screws during fixation.

ORTHO/BONE MALLET
A hammer-like instrument used to tap chisels, osteotomes, or
other bone instruments to cut or shape bone.

BONE HOOK
A hook-shaped instrument used to pull, hold, or manipulate
bones during orthopedic procedures.
4. Needle Holder - A needle holder is used to grasp and control surgical needles while placing sutures. It allows the
surgeon to drive the needle precisely through tissue during wound closure or internal suturing.

Straight Name & Curved Curved Variant Notes

Purpose

NEEDLE
HOLDER
(STRAIGHT) NEEDLE HOLDER
Grips curved (CURVED)
suture needles Curved jaw for suturing in
for wound deep or angled cavities.
closure; locking
ratchet jaw.

5. Retractors - are used to hold tissues, muscles, or organs away from the surgical site so the surgeon can
clearly see and access the area being operated on.
Straight Name & Purpose

BALFOUR RETRACTOR
A self-retaining retractor used to hold open large abdominal
incisions, providing wide exposure during abdominal surgery.

RICHARDSON RETRACTOR
A handheld retractor used to pull back deep layers of tissue or
organs, commonly used in abdominal procedures.
BLADDER RETRACTOR
Used to retract the urinary bladder away from the surgical
field, especially in pelvic or gynecologic surgery.

ARMY NAVY RETRACTOR

A small double-ended retractor used to retract superficial tissues
and small incisions.

DEAVER RETRACTOR
A large curved retractor used to hold back deep abdominal
organs such as the liver, stomach, or intestines.

MALLEABLE RETRACTOR
A flexible retractor that can be bent into different shapes to
retract tissues or organs in deep surgical cavities.
 VAGINAL SPECULUM
Used to open and separate the walls of the vagina to allow
examination or surgical procedures within the vaginal canal or
cervix.

6. Scissors - Surgical scissors are used for cutting tissues, sutures, or medical materials during
procedures.
Straight Name & Curved Curved Variant
Purpose Notes
MAYO
SCISSORS
Heavy scissors
CURVED MAYO
used to cut
Curved blades for
thick tissues
dissection around
such as fascia,
anatomical
muscle, or
structures.
dense
connective
tissue.

METZENBAUM
METZENBAU SCISSORS(CURV
M SCISSORS ED)
Fine scissors for Most-used OR
delicate tissue scissors; curved for
dissection.. visibility in deep
fields.

IRIS
SCISSORS IRIS SCISSORS
Very fine (CURVED)
scissors for Curved for precise
ophthalmic and dissection in tight or
delicate tissue angled spaces.
use.
 SUTURE SCISSORS
Small scissors designed specifically to cut sutures during or after
wound closure.

BANDAGE SCISSORS
Used to cut dressings, bandages, and clothing from patients, with a
blunt tip to prevent injury to the skin.

7. Scalpel Holder #3 & #4

Name & Name & Purpose
Purpose

SCALPEL
HOLDER #3
Standard SCALPEL #4
handle for Heavier handle for
small blades large blades (#20–
(#10–15); 25); deep incisions.
used for fine
incisions.

8. D&C Set (Dilation and Curettage) - These instruments are used in gynecologic procedures to
examine or remove tissue from the uterus.
Straight Name & Purpose

CURETTE
A spoon-shaped instrument used to scrape the lining of the
uterus (endometrium) to remove tissue.

TENACULUM
A sharp-pointed instrument used to grasp and stabilize the
cervix, allowing the surgeon to hold it steady during
procedures.

UTERINE SOUND
A thin probe used to measure the depth and direction of the
uterine cavity before performing uterine procedures.

OVUM FORCEPS
Used to remove tissue, placenta, or other materials from
inside the uterus during procedures like D&C.