Tool Box
The tool box of a pathologist assistant is quite varied. There is a tool for almost everything and a purpose for each tool. Some have specific uses while others are used for many things.
Rib Cage Cutters {used to cut ribs when removing the organ block}
Rib cutters are rather large, measuring around 24″ in length and quite heavy. After cutting away and separating the skin on the front of the trunk of the body, the rib cutters are used to cut each rib until the entire top of the chest can be removed from the body, revealing the organ block. The organ block is then cut away and separated from the body, leaving an empty and hollow body cavity.
Electric Saw {used for sawing bone}
The saw is used in a craniotomy and is quite fun and scary to use when using it for the first time. You can also cut ribs with the saw.
Scalpels {like the ballpoint pen of pathology, used for cutting everything}
Scalpels are used for cutting all tissue specimens for disection.
Scissors {used to cut and sever many tissues, veins, tendons, ligaments, etc.}
Used for cutting a multitude of things, like tissue, viscera, ligaments, tendons, nerves, etc.
Small Forceps {used for finer and more minute work}
Helps hold your tissue in place.
Hemostats {used for clamping parts and holding things in place for cutting and other purposes}
Holds tissue in place, when dissecting in a cadaver, you use these to hold skin and muscles back.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow…morbid.
Technically – those are small forceps, not tweezers.
it is a little, isn’t it?
thank you for the correction dr. z! where would i be without you??
amazing