retractor
Meaning: A surgical instrument used to hold back the edges of a wound or incision, or to separate tissue, giving the surgeon clear access to the operative site.
Retractors are essential to virtually every open surgical procedure. They range from simple handheld instruments to self-retaining devices that maintain exposure without an assistant. The term is strictly technical and appears almost exclusively in medical and surgical literature. Outside surgery, retractor is occasionally used in anatomy to describe muscles that pull a body part backward (e.g., scapular retractors), and in engineering for devices that wind cables or belts back into a housing, such as a seatbelt retractor.
Examples
- The surgical assistant held the retractor in position, providing the consultant with a clear view of the abdominal cavity. 手术助手将牵开器固定在位,使主刀医生能够清楚地看到腹腔。El ayudante quirúrgico sujetó el retractor en su posición, proporcionando al cirujano principal una vista clara de la cavidad abdominal.手術助手はリトラクターを所定の位置に保持し、執刀医に腹腔の明瞭な視野を提供した。수술 보조가 견인기를 제 위치에 유지하여 집도의에게 복강의 명확한 시야를 제공했다.
- Self-retaining retractors have reduced the need for additional theatre staff during lengthy procedures. 自持式牵开器减少了在长时间手术中对额外手术室工作人员的需求。Los retractores autorretenibles han reducido la necesidad de personal adicional en quirófano durante procedimientos prolongados.自己保持式リトラクターにより、長時間の手術における追加の手術室スタッフの必要性が軽減された。자체 유지식 견인기 덕분에 장시간 수술 시 추가 수술실 인력의 필요성이 줄어들었다.
- The incident was traced to a faulty seatbelt retractor that failed to lock during the collision. 该事故被追溯到一个在碰撞中未能锁定的安全带卷收器故障。El incidente se atribuyó a un retractor del cinturón de seguridad defectuoso que no se bloqueó durante la colisión.その事故は、衝突時にロックしなかった不良シートベルトリトラクターが原因であると判明した。그 사고는 충돌 시 잠금 장치가 작동하지 않은 불량 안전벨트 리트랙터가 원인인 것으로 밝혀졌다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: medical, scientific
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Latin retractare (to draw back), from re- (back) + trahere (to pull, draw). The surgical instrument sense emerged in the 18th century as operative surgery became more formalised.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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