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What Are the Functions of Mosquito Forceps?

A doctor uses forceps and hemostats to grasp and hold tissue and foreign objects such as splinters or embedded parasites; these instruments give doctors control over a distance. Mosquito forceps get their name from their small size and tiny point

Doctor's use a wide range of surgical instruments

A doctor uses forceps and hemostats to grasp and hold tissue and foreign objects such as splinters or embedded parasites; these instruments give doctors control over a distance. Mosquito forceps get their name from their small size and tiny point. The nose of the forceps is tiny and the entire tool widens to accommodate the finger holes. The shape of the entire tool is reminiscent of the thin proboscis of the mosquito and the insect's wings.


  1. Forceps and Hemostats

    • Forceps and Hemostats are two different tools. Forceps are similar to tweezers; the tool has a scissor shape with a tip at one end. When the user squeezes the handle, the tips squeeze together. The longer the handle, the more force exerted on the tips. Hemostats are similar to forceps. They have tips and scissor-like handles. Like forceps, the longer the handle, the more force the tips exert. But hemostats have a locking ratchet between the scissor handles of the piece. This ratchet holds the hemostat closed. This allows the physician to clamp blood vessels closed or hold tissue out of the field.

    Mosquito Forceps

    • Mosquito forceps have a small tip, with a short distance between the tip and the hinge. This gives the doctor more control and power over the tip of the instrument. The tips of mosquito forceps are either straight or curved. The straight tips give greater length, but the curved tips allow doctors to reach around objects and hold the object securely in the tips of the mosquito forceps.

    Mosquito Hemostats

    • Mosquito hemostats are similar to mosquito forceps. However, the hemostats have the locking ratchet that holds the hemostat closed. The tips of the mosquito hemostats can be either straight or curved. The physician locks the mosquito hemostat closed to clamp the blood vessel or tissue while working.

    Uses for the Mosquito Forceps and Hemostats

    • Doctors use the mosquito forceps in place of needle nose tweezers to remove splinters, ticks and other foreign bodies. They commonly use mosquito hemostats to clamp arteries. The tiny tips work well to close off small arteries and prevent blood from entering the surgical field.