forceps  1. an instrument with two blades and a handle for compressing or grasping tissues in surgical operations, and for handling sterile dressings and other surgical supplies. See accompanying table. 2. an organ or part shaped like the surgical instrument, particularly the terminal fibers of the corpus callosum. alligator forceps, a long, sharply angled forceps with a jawlike mechanism at the tip. Adson forceps, a small thumb forceps having a fine tip, with or without teeth. Adson-Brown forceps, a thumb forceps similar to the Adson forceps, having fine teeth at the tip, used for grasping delicate tissue; called also Brown-Adson f. Allis forceps, a grasping forceps with opposing serrated edges with short teeth, used for grasping fascia or exerting traction on subcutaneous tissue. forceps ante´rior, f. minor. artery forceps, forceps for grasping and compressing an artery. Asch forceps, forceps used for reduction and fixation of nasal fractures. axis-traction forceps, specially jointed obstetrical forceps so constructed that traction may be applied in the line of the pelvic axis. Bailey-Williamson forceps, a form of obstetrical forceps. Barton forceps, an obstetrical forceps with a hinge in one blade, which can be applied correctly to the fetal head without disturbing its relationship to the pelvic axis; used mainly for deep transverse arrests in a flat pelvis. bayonet forceps, a forceps whose blades are offset from the axis of the handle. bone-cutting forceps, a forceps with heavy jaws for cutting bone. Brown-Adson forceps, Adson-Brown f. bulldog forceps, spring forceps for seizing an artery to arrest or prevent hemorrhage; the jaws are usually covered with rubber tubing to prevent injury to the vascular wall. bullet forceps, a forceps for extracting bullets. capsule forceps, forceps for removing the lens capsule in membranous cataract. chalazion forceps, a thumb forceps with a flattened plate at the end of one arm and a matching ring on the other; it is an ophthalmologic instrument, also used for isolation of lip and cheek lesions to facilitate removal. Chamberlen forceps, the original form of obstetrical forceps, invented by Peter Chamberlen (1560–1631), and disclosed by Hugh Chamberlen (1664–1728). clamp forceps, a forceps with an automatic lock, used for compressing arteries, the pedicle of a tumor, etc.; called also pedicle clamp.rubber dam f. clip forceps, a double-action forceps for applying wound clips.a McKenzie forceps for applying brain clips. Cornet forceps, a forceps for holding a coverglass. DeBakey forceps, atraumatic tissue forceps used to grasp fine tissue. DeLee forceps, a modified Simpson forceps. dental forceps, forceps for the extraction of teeth. Called also extracting f. disk forceps, a forceps for grasping the scleral disk in trephining the eyeball. dressing forceps, a thumb forceps with a blunt end and serrated teeth, used to apply and remove dressings and to handle items in surgical wounds. ear forceps, delicate forceps for ear surgery or extraction of foreign bodies from the ear. Elliot forceps, a form of obstetrical forceps used in vaginal delivery and breech presentations with aftercoming head. epilating forceps, epilation forceps, forceps for use in plucking out hairs. extracting forceps, dental f. fixation forceps, forceps for holding a part during an operation. frontal forceps, f. minor. forceps fronta´lis, TA alternative for f. minor. Garrison forceps, an obstetrical forceps with unfenestrated blades; called also Luikart f. grasping forceps, any forceps for grasping tissue and exerting traction, having finger rings and a locking mechanism. Haig Ferguson forceps, a form of obstetrical forceps. Hawks-Dennen forceps, a form of obstetrical forceps. hemostatic forceps, a locking forceps for compressing a blood vessel to control hemorrhage. high forceps, see forceps delivery, high, under delivery. jeweler's forceps, a thumb forceps with very fine, pointed tips, used for microvascular and ophthalmic procedures. Kazanjian forceps, cutting forceps used for resection of the nasal dorsal hump. Kielland (Kjelland) forceps, obstetrical forceps having no pelvic curve, a marked cephalic curve, and an articulation permitting a gliding movement of one blade over the other, thus allowing the blades to adapt to the sides of the fetal head when the head lies with its long diameter in the transverse diameter of the pelvis. Kocher forceps, a strong forceps with sharp points at the tips and transverse serrations along the full length for holding tissues during operation or for compressing bleeding tissue. Laufe forceps, a form of obstetrical forceps. Levret forceps, modified Chamberlen forceps, curved to correspond with the curve of the parturient canal. lithotomy forceps, forceps for removing a vesical calculus in lithotomy. low forceps, see forceps delivery, low, under delivery. Löwenberg forceps, forceps for removing adenoid growths. Luikart forceps, Garrison f. McKenzie forceps, a forceps for applying silver clips. Magill forceps, angled forceps used to guide a tracheal tube into the larynx or a nasogastric into the esophagus under direct vision; also used to place pharyngeal packs and remove foreign bodies. forceps ma´jor, major forceps: the terminal fibers of the corpus callosum that pass from the splenium into the occipital lobes; called also f. occipitalis[TA alternative], and occipital f. mid forceps, see midforceps delivery, under delivery. forceps mi´nor, minor forceps: the terminal fibers of the corpus callosum that pass from the genu into the frontal lobes; called also frontal f., and f. frontalis[TA alternative]. mosquito forceps, see under clamp. mouse-tooth forceps, forceps with one or more fine teeth at the tip of each blade. obstetrical forceps, an instrument designed to extract the fetus by the head from the maternal passages without injury to it or to the mother. occipital forceps, f. major. forceps occipita´lis, TA alternative for f. major. Péan forceps, see under clamp. Piper forceps, a special obstetrical forceps for an aftercoming head. point forceps, forceps used in root canal therapy to securely hold the cones or points during placement. forceps poste´rior, f. major. rongeur forceps, a forceps designed for use in cutting bone. rubber dam forceps, rubber dam clamp forceps, one for placing rubber dam clamps in position. Called also clamp f. sequestrum forceps, forceps with small but strong serrated jaws for removing the portions of bone forming a sequestrum. Simpson forceps, a form of obstetrical forceps. speculum forceps, long slender forceps for use through a speculum. suture forceps, forceps used to hold the needle in passing a suture; a needle holder. Tarnier forceps, a form of axis-traction forceps. tenaculum forceps, forceps having a sharp hook at the end of each jaw. thumb forceps, a forceps consisting of two strips of metal joined at one end and designed to be used between the thumb and the index and middle fingers.tissue f. tissue forceps, forceps with one or more fine teeth at the tip of each blade, designed for handling tissues with minimal trauma during surgery; called also thumb f. torsion forceps, forceps for making torsion on an artery to arrest hemorrhage. Tucker-McLane forceps, a long obstetrical forceps with a solid blade. tying forceps, a thumb forceps with fine, smooth tips for tying sutures in ophthalmologic surgery. volsella forceps, vulsellum forceps, a forceps with teeth for grasping tissues and applying traction. Walsham forceps, forceps used for reduction and fixation of nasal fractures.