retractor
/rɪˈtræktər/
noun
- A surgical instrument used to hold back the edges of a wound or incision to give the surgeon better access.
- A retractor is an essential tool in many surgical procedures.
- The surgeon used a retractor to keep the incision open during the operation.
- The nurse handed the doctor a retractor to hold the tissue aside.
- A device or mechanism that pulls something back, such as a seatbelt retractor in a car.
- The seatbelt retractor automatically tightens the belt during a sudden stop.
- He had to replace the retractor in the car's seatbelt because it was jammed.
- The tape measure has a retractor that pulls the tape back into its case.
- A muscle that draws a body part backward.
- The frog uses its retractor muscles to pull its tongue back into its mouth.
- The retractor muscles in a dog's leg help pull the limb backward.
- In anatomy class, we studied the retractor muscles of the eye.