Which surgical instrument is used to cut, incise, and dissect tissue?

• A. Scalpel
• B. Hemostat
• C. Scissors
• D. Rongeurs

Answer: (C)

The surgical instrument primarily designed for cutting, incising, and dissecting tissue is the scalpel. Scalpel blades are extremely sharp and can make precise incisions, making them essential for surgical procedures that require access to deep tissues. They are typically used to create the initial incision in the skin, as well as to dissect through various tissues during surgeries.

Scissors, while also capable of cutting, are generally utilized for specific tasks such as cutting sutures, dissecting tissue, or spreading tissue apart. However, their design focuses more on precision cutting rather than the broader surgical cutting and incising that a scalpel provides.

Hemostats are primarily used to clamp blood vessels and control bleeding and are not intended for cutting tissue. Similarly, rongeurs are designed for biting and removing bone and tougher tissues rather than cutting soft tissue like a scalpel would.

Thus, the scalpel is the correct choice for its ability to effectively cut and incise tissue, which plays a crucial role in surgical procedures.