Which small, straight, thin-bladed knife is used especially in surgery?

• A. Razor
• B. Lancet
• C. Scalpel
• D. Butter knife

Answer: (C)

In surgery, making precise, clean cuts with minimal tissue trauma relies on using a blade that is small, straight, and extremely sharp. The scalpel fits this need perfectly: a small, straight, thin-bladed knife designed specifically for surgical dissection, giving smooth, controlled incisions. Its blades are interchangeable and sterilizable, allowing the right blade to be chosen for the procedure and kept in a sterile field. Razors aren’t standard surgical instruments and lack the controlled handle and interchangeable blade system. A lancet is pointed for punctures or lancings rather than clean incisions. A butter knife is blunt and unsuitable for cutting tissue. So, the scalpel is the instrument designed for precise surgical incisions.