Final answer:
For a Left Nephrectomy, a #10 scalpel blade would generally be used, not for a scrotal incision. The layers cut through during kidney surgery would be the renal fascia, renal capsule, cortex, and medulla, in that order. The kidneys are retroperitoneal and surrounded by the renal fascia and two layers of fat.
Step-by-step explanation:
- Scalpel Choice for Nephrectomy
Regarding Ms. Tovar's scheduled Left Nephrectomy, the question about the scalpel/blade combination to make a scrotal incision contains an apparent typo, as a nephrectomy is kidney surgery, not scrotal. Therefore, no scalpel would be chosen for a scrotal incision in kidney surgery. Nonetheless, in a typical nephrectomy procedure, which involves surgery on the kidney, a #10 scalpel blade is commonly used for making larger incisions in abdominal surgery. In the context of this surgery, it is used to cut through the abdominal layers to reach the kidney.
- Layers of the Kidney for Surgery
If a surgeon is working on the minor calyces of the kidney, she would cut through the layers in the following sequence: renal fascia, renal capsule, cortex, and finally the medulla. The kidneys themselves are retroperitoneal and are surrounded by the renal fascia, a layer of fibrous tissue enveloping the kidneys, and two layers of fat (perirenal and pararenal fat), which provide cushioning.