Definition

A long, thin tool with a hook at the end, used in surgery to lift and hold body parts like blood vessels.

Example

The surgeon used a tenaculum to secure the blood vessels during the operation.

Conversation

I saw a fascinating documentary about surgical tools yesterday.

Oh really? What was the most interesting one they showed?

They talked about the tenaculum and how it's used to hold blood vessels during surgery.

That's cool! I had no idea there were so many specialized tools in the operating room.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Tenaculum → It is derived from the Latin "tenaculum" (meaning a small hook or grasping instrument), which comes from "tenere" (meaning to hold). The word refers to a small instrument used for holding or grasping tissues in surgical procedures.

Memory Tip

Think of a small tool that 'holds' ('tenere') things tightly — that's why a tenaculum is used to grasp tissues.

Visually Confused Words