| umls-concept:C0180377 | skos:definition | UMD: Devices designed to displace tissue or organs by compression, facilitating the examination of body sites and/or providing access to them during surgical procedures. Depressors are typically handheld, manual instruments in a variety of shapes and sizes; depressors used for oral examination (tongue depressors) are usually disposable or reusable and used for a very short time. Surgical depressors usually consist of reusable metal devices that may be held or fixed to the organ or tissue (e.g., uterus, brain, sclera) for a longer period; some depressors are used to facilitate evaluation of organs before a surgical procedure. | lld:umls |
