Surgical Technology Study Guide Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering orthopedic, plastic, urologic, gynecologic, and obstetric surgical concepts, instruments, and patient positioning as detailed in the study guide.

Compact (cortical) bone

The hard, dense, outer layer of bone.

Cancellous (spongy) bone

The porous inner bone that contains marrow.

Bone marrow

Soft tissue in bone that produces blood cells.

Periosteum

Tough membrane covering the outside of the bone.

Diaphysis

The shaft or mid-section of a long bone.

Epiphysis

The end of a long bone.

Metaphysis

The area in between the growth plate in children.

Sesamoid bone

A small bone located in a tendon, such as the patella.

Elevators

Instruments used to lift or separate tissues or periosteum from bone.

Rongeurs

Instruments that bite or cut away small pieces of bone.

Rasps

A file used to smooth rough bone edges.

Curettes

Spoons used to scrape bone or tissue.

Reamers

Instruments used to enlarge or shape a bone canal or hole.

Transverse fracture

A break that goes straight across the bone.

Spiral fracture

A break caused by a twisting motion.

Comminuted fracture

A fracture where the bone breaks into three or more pieces.

Greenstick fracture

An incomplete break in the bone.

Pathologic fracture

A break caused by a weakened bone due to disease, such as osteoporosis, tumors, or infection.

Impacted fracture

A fracture where bone is driven into one another.

Avulsion fracture

A fracture where a tendon or ligament pulls off a piece of the bone.

Internal fixation devices

Plates, screws, pins, wires, and rods used to stabilize bone.

Bone healing phases

Hematoma formation, followed by soft callus, hard callus ($2$ to $6$ weeks), and finally remodeling.

Blepharoplasty

Eyelid surgery/repair involving the removal of tissue with a crease incision.

Otoplasty

Ear reshaping surgery involving ear cartilage.

Mentoplasty

Chin surgery to reshape the mandible/chin; often performed through an incision in the mouth.

Malar augmentation

Cheek augmentation to enhance the cheek bony (zygomatic) region via an incision inside the mouth or lower eyelid.

Rhytidectomy

A facelift procedure to tighten facial and neck skin with incisions around the hair and ears.

Split-thickness grafts

Grafts involving the epidermis and part of the dermis; used for large area coverage but results in more scarring.

Full-thickness grafts

Grafts involving the epidermis and the whole dermis; provides better cosmetic results and less contraction.

Pedicle grafts

Tissue removed while remaining attached to its blood supply.

Debridement

The removal of dead or contaminated tissue from a wound.

Epididymis

The male reproductive structure that stores and matures sperm.

Spermatic cord

Contains the vas deferens, vessels, and nerves.

Lithotripsy

A procedure used to break up urinary stones (calculi).

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)

An enlarged prostate that can block urine flow.

Calculi

Stones formed when minerals crystallize.

Vestibule

The female anatomical area containing the urethral and vaginal openings.

Colporrhaphy

Surgical repair of the vaginal wall, typically performed in the lithotomy position.

Leiomyoma

A uterine fibroid.

Hydrocele

Fluid around the testicle.

Epispadias

A condition where the urethra opens on the top (of the penis).

Insufflation

The use of $CO_2$ to expand a cavity during endoscopy.

Monopolar current

An electrosurgery system requiring a patient return pad.

Bipolar current

An electrosurgery system where the current runs between two tips, such as forceps.

Oscillating saw

A power saw that cuts bone using a side-to-side motion.

Reciprocating saw

A power saw that moves back and forth.

Trendelenburg position

Patient positioning where the head is down.

Jackknife position

Patient positioning where the hips are raised.

Ablation

The process of destroying or removing tissue.

Tamponade

Pressure applied to stop bleeding.