AUTOPSY INSTRUMENTS AND THEIR USES

Instrument Uses Figure

Knives
1. Scalpels (Solid Forged Scalpels) : (1) Cutting skin and organs

2. Cartilage Knives : (1) Cutting cartilages

3. Shaving Razor : (1) Shaving Hair

 Instrument Uses Figure

Saws
4. Fixed Bone Saw : (1) Cutting bones
(2) Cutting the skull and opening
the cranium

5. Amputation Saw : (1) Amputation of Limbs

6. Spinal Saw : (1) Cutting the vertebral column

and opening the spinal canal
Instrument Uses Figure

Scissors
7. Bowel Scissor : (1) Opening the bowels longitudinally
without damaging the tissues.

8. Coronary Scissor : (1) Opening coronary arteries

9. Artery Scissor : (1) Opening arteries

(2) Excision of skin lesions or
sebaceous cysts

10. Curved Scissor : (1) Cutting curved structures

eg : Sagittal sinus,
Lesser or greater curvature or
in-between the curvatures
of the Stomach

11. Rib cutter : (1) Cutting Ribs

 Instrument Uses Figure

Forceps
12. Toothed Forceps : (1) Hold small tissues or Fascia
(Treves Dissecting Forceps)

13. Artery Forceps : (1) Clamp arteries to prevent

(Spencer Wells AF) bleeding

14. Bone Cutting Forceps : (1) Cutting bones

(Listons BCF)

15. Bone Holding Forceps : (1) Stabilize bones

(2) Remove bone Fragments
from surgical sites
Instrument Uses Figure

Measuring Instruments
16. Skull Caliper : (1) Craniometry

17. Measuring Tape :(1) Measuring the length of injuries

(2) Measuring the height of a person
and length of hair, etc

18. Beaker : (1) Measure fluid volumes in body cavities

eg :Ascitic fluid, Blood volumes

19. Syringe and Suction Tips : (1) Suction and Irrigation

(2) Suction of fluids from body
compartments
 Instrument Uses Figure

Other Autopsy Instruments

20. Rachitome : (1) Used to open the spinal canal

21. Silver Plated Probe : (1) Identify the tracts

(2) Manipulation of Tissues
and Ligatures
(3) Exploring open wounds

22. T-shaped Chisel : (1) Used as a lever while removing the skull cap

23. Hammer : (1) To hammer the chisel

24. Smooth Round Edged Retractor

: (1) Separate the edges of an incision
(2) Hold back tissues of organs
to access underlying structures

25. Needle (Hagedorn) : (1) Sewing up the body after autopsy