Which instrument is an artery forcep with rat tooth ends?

• A. Crile
• B. Adson
• C. Kocher
• D. Mayo

Answer: (C)

Kocher forceps are identified by the prominent rat-tooth tips at the end of the jaws. Those teeth bite firmly into tissue to prevent slipping, which is why this instrument is described as an artery forcep with rat tooth ends. The rugged, toothed grip allows securing a vessel or tough tissue without crushing it, and the handle mechanism provides a locking action to maintain the hold while a ligature is placed. Other artery clamps, like smooth-jawed Crile or Mayo forceps, don’t have teeth and are designed for different applications, while delicate Adson tissue forceps have small teeth along the length for gentle tissue grasping rather than clamping vessels. The telltale feature here is the rat teeth at the tips, characteristic of Kocher forceps.