What it means
The grooves cut into the jaws of instruments such as hemostats and forceps so they grip tissue without slipping. They may run across the jaw (horizontal), along it (longitudinal) or in a crosshatch pattern, and they may cover the whole jaw or only part. Serrations also appear on some scissor blades.
For the nurse
Serrations trap blood and tissue, so instruments are opened and cleaned carefully, often with a brush, before sterilizing.
At a glance
| Also written | serrations, serrated |
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Related terms
hemostat
A clamp with finger rings and a locking ratchet used in surgery to grasp and close off bleeding vessels.