Surgical Retractor in Historical Abdominal Surgery - Medical Illustration #2178620 (License: Personal Use)

This black-and-white engraved illustration shows a handheld surgical retractor with a circular central aperture, used to hold back skin and muscle layers during open abdominal procedures. Fine hatching indicates tissue texture and depth, while dotted lines suggest suture placement or incision margins. The instrument’s elongated handle with a loop end suggests manual operation by a surgeon or assistant.

Used in historical medical textbooks, museum exhibits, or educational content about pre-20th-century surgical techniques; serves users researching the evolution of surgical tools, anatomy teaching aids, or vintage medical art.