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Flagship Guide · Instrument Mastery

54 Basic Surgical Instruments: Pictures, Names, and Uses

All 54 basic surgical instruments with clear photos, names and what each one is used for, grouped by function. Free printable version and flashcards included.

8 min read 53 live instruments 6 functional categories
Browse all 53 instruments Try a practice question Download PDF Study as flashcards
Real OR PhotographyAuthentic equipment
Interactive TestingBuilt-in practice tests
The Look-Alike TellsDistinguish near-twins
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The Complete Catalog

All 53 Basic Instruments with Photos & Uses

Every card below is a live entry from our comprehensive instrument library. Tap any card to see alternative names, inspection points, caution notes, and passing technique.

Filter by family:All 53 Retracting & Exposing 15 Grasping & Holding 13 Clamping & Occluding 13 Cutting & Dissecting 7 Suctioning 3 Suturing & Stapling 1 Specialty 1
  1. Straight Mayo Scissor surgical instrumentStraight Mayo ScissorPrimarily utilized for precise suture trimming during wound closure procedures.Cutting & Dissecting
  2. Curved Mayo Scissor surgical instrumentCurved Mayo ScissorDesigned for cutting dense fibrous tissues.Cutting & Dissecting
  3. Metzenbaum Scissor surgical instrumentMetzenbaum ScissorUsed for precise dissection of fragile tissues.Cutting & Dissecting
  4. Potts Smith Scissors surgical instrumentPotts Smith ScissorsCutting & Dissecting
  5. Volkman Retractor surgical instrumentVolkman RetractorSpecialized for superficial tissue retraction in various surgical applications.Retracting & Exposing
  6. Goelet Retractor surgical instrumentGoelet RetractorProvides retraction of superficial tissues during minor procedures.Retracting & Exposing
  7. Kelly Retractor surgical instrumentKelly RetractorProvides wound edge retraction.Retracting & Exposing
  8. Ribbon retractor surgical instrumentRibbon retractorRetracts organs and intestines during procedures.Retracting & Exposing
  9. Richardson Retractor surgical instrumentRichardson RetractorRetracts wound edges during procedures.Retracting & Exposing
  10. Adair Tenaculum Forceps surgical instrumentAdair Tenaculum ForcepsIdeal for grasping and holding tissues securely during gynecological procedures.Grasping & Holding
  11. Allis Forceps surgical instrumentAllis ForcepsIdeal for securing dense tissues during tonsillectomies, gynecological procedures, or bowel resections where slippery surfaces require firm traction.Clamping & Occluding
  12. Babcock surgical instrumentBabcockSpecifically designed for delicate manipulation of tubular structures like intestines or reproductive organs without causing crush injuries.Clamping & Occluding
  13. Roux retractor surgical instrumentRoux retractorProvides abdominal wall retraction during upper GI and bariatric surgeries.Retracting & Exposing
  14. Senn Retractor surgical instrumentSenn RetractorRetracts skin and superficial subcutaneous tissues during minor or small-incision procedures.Retracting & Exposing
  15. Army-Navy Retractor surgical instrumentArmy-Navy RetractorPrimarily employed for superficial wound retraction to enhance visibility during minor surgical procedures.Retracting & Exposing
  16. Tonsil Clamp surgical instrumentTonsil ClampUsed for grasping and stabilizing tonsils during tonsillectomy procedures.Clamping & Occluding
  17. Weitlaner Retractor surgical instrumentWeitlaner RetractorMaintains consistent exposure in confined surgical spaces.Retracting & Exposing
  18. Cushing Vein Retractor surgical instrumentCushing Vein RetractorIdeal for exposing veins and tissues in neck surgeries and intermediate-depth procedures.Retracting & Exposing
  19. Mayo-Hegar Needle Holder surgical instrumentMayo-Hegar Needle HolderDesigned for manipulating large needles during closure of deep tissues or fascial layers.Suturing & Stapling
  20. Adson Brown Forceps surgical instrumentAdson Brown ForcepsSpecialized for grasping and aligning delicate tissue edges, particularly in meticulous procedures.Grasping & Holding
  21. Cushing Bayonet Dressing Forceps surgical instrumentCushing Bayonet Dressing ForcepsDesigned for securely holding delicate tissues without causing damage during neurosurgical operations.Grasping & Holding
  22. Non toothed Pickup surgical instrumentNon toothed PickupGrasps tissues and applies dressings.Grasping & Holding
  23. Mosquito Clamp - Curved surgical instrumentMosquito Clamp - CurvedControls minor bleeding in delicate procedures (plastic, pediatric, thyroid, hand surgeries). Also secures fine vascular sutures.Clamping & Occluding
  24. Ferris Smith Tissue Forceps surgical instrumentFerris Smith Tissue ForcepsIdeal for handling dense or fibrous tissues during surgical procedures.Grasping & Holding
  25. Forester Sponge Forceps surgical instrumentForester Sponge ForcepsPrimarily employed to assemble sponge sticks, handle delicate tissues like lung matter, or extract uterine contents.Grasping & Holding
  26. Kelly Forceps surgical instrumentKelly ForcepsIdeal for securing bleeders prior to ligation or cauterization in various surgical contexts.Clamping & Occluding
  27. Kocher Forceps surgical instrumentKocher ForcepsEssential for securing dense connective tissues during musculoskeletal or fascial procedures where standard forceps would slip.Clamping & Occluding
  28. Lahey Gall Duct Forceps surgical instrumentLahey Gall Duct ForcepsEnables precise dissection and ligature placement around delicate ductal structures.Clamping & Occluding
  29. Lahey Traction Forceps surgical instrumentLahey Traction ForcepsIdeal for securing and manipulating dense fibrous tissues.Grasping & Holding
  30. Right Angle Clamp surgical instrumentRight Angle ClampGrasps tubular structures to pass ligatures or vessel loops for ligation or retraction.Clamping & Occluding
  31. Rochester Pean Forceps surgical instrumentRochester Pean ForcepsClamps large vessels or dense tissue prior to ligation, particularly in deep surgical sites.Clamping & Occluding
  32. Russian Tissue Forceps surgical instrumentRussian Tissue ForcepsEffective for gripping dense tissues or wound edges during closure, particularly in OB/GYN procedures.Grasping & Holding
  33. Singley Tissue Forceps surgical instrumentSingley Tissue ForcepsSecures delicate tissues, dressings, or intestinal tissue in general, urologic, thoracic, and OB/GYN surgeries.Grasping & Holding
  34. Adson Forceps surgical instrumentAdson ForcepsSpecialized for securing small vessels in deep cavities, handling tonsil sponges, or assisting in the creation of ligature passers.Grasping & Holding
  35. Curved Hemostats surgical instrumentCurved HemostatsControls bleeding vessels prior to cautery/ligation. Also assists in blunt dissection.Clamping & Occluding
  36. Poole Suction Probe surgical instrumentPoole Suction ProbeRemoves large fluid volumes. Inner cannula suctions femoral shafts in hip replacements.Suctioning
  37. Ferg-Frazier Suction surgical instrumentFerg-Frazier SuctionEvacuates fluid, blood, and smoke from deep, narrow surgical pathways like nasal cavities, ear canals, and neurosurgical fields.Suctioning
  38. Yankauer Suction surgical instrumentYankauer SuctionGeneral wound suctioning. Minimizes tissue trauma during aspiration.Suctioning
  39. Kocher Intestinal Forceps surgical instrumentKocher Intestinal ForcepsGrasps vascular pedicles or occludes bowel without traumaGrasping & Holding
  40. Bonney Forceps surgical instrumentBonney ForcepsIdeal for grasping thick tissues and fascial layers during procedures.Grasping & Holding
  41. Debakey Vascular Clamp surgical instrumentDebakey Vascular ClampProvides complete vascular occlusion in peripheral vessel procedures.Clamping & Occluding
  42. Penetrating Towel Clamp surgical instrumentPenetrating Towel ClampSecures drapes or reduces small fractures; contraindicated for attaching ESU/suction.Clamping & Occluding
  43. Pratt Rectal Speculum surgical instrumentPratt Rectal SpeculumProvides exposure and visualization of the anal canal and rectum for examination, exposure, or surgery.Retracting & Exposing
  44. Auvard Vaginal Speculum surgical instrumentAuvard Vaginal SpeculumProvides consistent posterior vaginal wall retraction during procedures, utilizing gravity for secure positioning.Retracting & Exposing
  45. Weisman Graves Speculum surgical instrumentWeisman Graves SpeculumEnables visualization and access during nasal and sinus surgeries.Retracting & Exposing
  46. Storz Nasal Speculum surgical instrumentStorz Nasal SpeculumEnables nasal cavity examination and access during rhinologic procedures.Retracting & Exposing
  47. #3 Knife Handle surgical instrument#3 Knife HandleFacilitates precise incisions in surgical settings, particularly for initial skin cuts requiring sharp, controlled dissection.Cutting & Dissecting
  48. #3 Long Knife Handle surgical instrument#3 Long Knife HandleIdeal for making precise incisions in confined or deep anatomical structures where standard handles lack sufficient length.Cutting & Dissecting
  49. #7 Knife Handle surgical instrument#7 Knife HandleFacilitates precise cuts in confined surgical areas.Cutting & Dissecting
  50. Toothed Forcep surgical instrumentToothed ForcepEffective for securing moderate-to-dense tissues during wound approximation and closure procedures.Grasping & Holding
  51. Balfour Retractor surgical instrumentBalfour RetractorEssential for large abdominal incisions, providing multi-directional retraction for enhanced surgical access.Retracting & Exposing
  52. Fogarty Clamp surgical instrumentFogarty ClampProvides atraumatic clamping for delicate vessels and graft materials during vascular procedures.Clamping & Occluding
  53. Stryker Drill surgical instrumentStryker DrillEnables efficient bone cutting, drilling, and reaming in major orthopedic interventions.Specialty
The Tells · Look-Alike Guide

Telling the near-identical apart.

Nobody confuses a retractor with a suction tip. What costs you time on the Mayo stand is the pairs that look nearly identical in a crowded tray. Every pair comes down to a single distinguishing feature:

Deaver vs. Richardson Retractor

Deaver RetractorContinuous smooth curved blade ("question-mark" arc) for deep abdominal cavity retraction.
Richardson RetractorRigid right-angle (90°) blade with a distinct curved lip and ergonomic handle.
The Tell: Deaver is one long continuous sweeping curve; Richardson forms a sharp right-angle blade with a retention lip.

Curved Mayo vs. Metzenbaum Scissors

Curved MayoHeavy, robust blades with relatively short shanks for cutting dense, heavy tissue (fascia, muscle).
MetzenbaumLong, slender handles with short, fine, delicate blades for dissecting soft tissue.
The Tell: The blade-to-shank ratio: Mayos are heavy and short-shanked; Metzenbaums have long shanks and fine delicate tips.

Crile Hemostat vs. Kelly Forceps

Crile ForcepsTransverse horizontal serrations run the full length of the jaw.
Kelly ForcepsTransverse serrations run only along the distal half (tip) of the jaw.
The Tell: Full-jaw serrations mean Crile; half-jaw serrations (stopping midway down the blade) mean Kelly.

Allis Forceps vs. Babcock Forceps

Allis ForcepsMultiple sharp intermeshing teeth (5x6) that grasp tissue securely (used on tissue to be excised).
Babcock ForcepsBroad, smooth, fenestrated loop tips that gently encircle tubular organs without crushing.
The Tell: Sharp interlocking teeth mean Allis; a smooth, rounded atraumatic window means Babcock.

Needle Holder vs. Hemostatic Clamp

Mayo-Hegar Needle HolderShort, stout jaws with cross-hatched textured tungsten carbide inserts to lock needles.
Hemostat (Crile/Pean)Longer, thinner jaws with parallel transverse ridges designed to occlude vessels.
The Tell: A cross-hatched grid pattern on the jaw face is built to lock a suture needle; parallel lines are built to clamp.

Adson Tissue vs. Adson-Brown Forceps

Adson Forceps (1x2)Single fine tooth fitting between two opposing teeth on the opposite tip for holding skin.
Adson-Brown ForcepsMultiple micro-teeth in longitudinal rows for gripping delicate tissue atraumatically.
The Tell: 1x2 distinct teeth on the tip is standard Adson; a textured pad of multi-row micro-teeth is Adson-Brown.
Interactive Testing Engine

Would you know it on the back table?

Reading an instrument list is not the same as identifying it in seconds under surgical lights. Our built-in testing system generates questions directly from real cases with authentic photographs and realistic distractors.

Try this live question from our testing system. Select an answer below to see the instant clinical explanation — no account required for this sample.

Instrument class · 54 Basic Set

The Cystoscopy Bridge belongs to which instrument class?

Correct! The Cystoscopy Bridge is filed under Specialty.
Not quite. The Cystoscopy Bridge is filed under Specialty.
Ready to master all 54 instruments? Scrub in free
Classification

The six functional families.

Instrument names become intuitive once you stop memorising them one by one. Almost every basic instrument belongs to one of these six functional groups:

Cutting & Dissecting

Scalpels, scissors, and curettes designed to divide, excise, or incise tissue. The working edge is sharp and must be protected when passing.

Key Examples: #3 & #7 knife handles, Straight & Curved Mayo, Metzenbaum, Potts-Smith

Grasping & Holding

Tissue forceps, sponge holders, and tenaculums that manipulate tissue or maintain exposure without slipping.

Key Examples: Allis, Babcock, Kocher, Russian, Adson, Ferris-Smith, Bonney, Foerster

Clamping & Occluding

Hemostats and vascular clamps that compress blood vessels or hollow lumens to achieve haemostasis and prevent leakage.

Key Examples: Crile hemostats, Kelly, Rochester-Pean, Tonsil (Schnidt), Mixter Right Angle, Fogarty

Retracting & Exposing

Handheld and self-retaining instruments that hold wound edges and organs away from the operative field to optimize visualization.

Key Examples: Deaver, Army-Navy, Richardson, Senn, Volkman rake, Balfour, Weitlaner

Suturing & Stapling

Instruments engineered to drive needles, manipulate suture material, or approximate wound margins with clips and staples.

Key Examples: Mayo-Hegar needle holders, Webster, Castroviejo, skin staplers

Suctioning & Evacuating

Hollow probes and cannulas attached to vacuum lines to remove blood, smoke, peritoneal fluid, and debris from the surgical field.

Key Examples: Yankauer suction tip, Poole abdominal suction probe, Ferg-Frazier cannula
Clinical Practice

Why identification speed matters at the table.

Naming an instrument on a written quiz and handing it across a Mayo stand in under two seconds are two completely different skills. In the operating room, a surgeon will ask for an instrument with their eyes locked on the incision. If you hesitate or deliver the wrong clamp, the operative tempo breaks.

  • Pass with purpose and orientation: Ring-handled instruments (scissors, clamps, needle holders) must be placed firmly into the surgeon's palm with the rings down and the tips facing upward or in the direction of intended use.
  • Protect the tip: Scalpels (#3, #7) and sharp retractors (Senn, Volkman) should always be handed over with the sharp edge facing away from your hands and the surgeon's fingers.
  • Real tables are not clean catalog shoots: On a live back table, instruments sit under lap sponges, reflect glare from surgical lights, and get wet with saline. Learn instruments by their distinctive silhouettes and hinge geometries.
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