Final answer:
The commonly used surgical instruments include dissecting scissors, hemostats, scalpels, and needle holders, each designed for a specific task in operations, requiring sterilization to ensure safety. The precision of a scalpel is crucial for effectiveness and can be enhanced with high-frequency AC in electrosurgery.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most commonly used surgical instruments include dissecting scissors, hemostats, scalpels, and needle holders. Dissecting scissors are used to cut tissue; hemostats are employed to stop bleeding by clamping blood vessels; scalpels are used for making incisions with their sharp blades; and needle holders are used to hold the needle when suturing tissues. Each instrument is designed for its specific task, much like using a spoon to eat soup because it scoops efficiently. For instance, a scalpel is more effective than a blunter instrument because it makes precise cuts, which is important both in modern surgery and was also evidenced in historical injuries determined from skeletal remains.
Furthermore, the process of sterilization is essential for these instruments to ensure they are free of any microbes before they come into contact with open wounds. When surgery involves electrical tools like those that use high-voltage electricity, it's typically the sharply honed edge of a scalpel that conducts the most current due to the nature of electric fields at conductor surfaces. The use of high-frequency AC is often chosen because it causes less stimulation of nerves and muscles.