Final answer:
The role of the medical assistant during a minor surgical procedure is to provide support to the surgeon by holding the skin retractor and assisting with other tasks. They play a crucial role in ensuring a successful procedure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of the medical assistant during a minor surgical procedure when the physician requests assistance with a skin retractor is to provide support to the surgeon by holding the retractor in the appropriate position to give the surgeon a clear view of the surgical site. The medical assistant may also assist with other tasks such as suctioning, suturing, or maintaining a sterile field. They work closely with the surgical team to ensure a successful procedure.
For example, during a skin graft surgery, the medical assistant would hold the skin retractor to keep the edges of the graft in place while the surgeon carefully attaches it to the recipient site. This allows the surgeon to perform precise and accurate suturing for optimal graft viability.