Glossary
Surgical Technologist Terms & Vocabulary
15 essential surgical technologist terms with plain-English definitions: the vocabulary you’ll hear in training and on day one.
Key surgical technologist vocabulary
These 15 terms come up constantly in surgical technologist training, on the job and in interviews. Knowing them helps you follow instructions, document accurately and sound prepared.
- Back table
- The large sterile table where instruments and supplies are organized.
- Circulator
- The non-sterile team member, usually an RN, who manages the room and supplies.
- Closed gloving
- A technique for putting on sterile gloves without the hands leaving the gown sleeves.
- Electrosurgical unit (ESU)
- A device that uses electrical current to cut tissue and control bleeding.
- Hemostat
- A clamp used to control bleeding.
- Mayo stand
- A small sterile tray positioned over the patient holding instruments in immediate use.
- Preference card
- A surgeon’s list of preferred instruments, supplies and setup for a procedure.
- Retractor
- An instrument used to hold tissue or organs aside.
- Scrub role
- The team member who works within the sterile field, passing instruments.
- Specimen
- Tissue removed during surgery that is sent to pathology for examination.
- Sterile field
- The area around the patient and instruments kept free of microorganisms during surgery.
- Surgical conscience
- A personal commitment to report any break in sterile technique, even if no one saw it.
- Surgical count
- A documented count of sponges, sharps and instruments to prevent retained items.
- Suture
- Thread used to close wounds or tie off vessels.
- Time out
- A pause before incision to confirm patient, procedure, site and other safety checks.
Practice these terms
Test yourself with the free Surgical Technologist practice test: it includes vocabulary questions built from this list. For a complete course, see Surgical Technologist training.
Browse terms from every career in our career glossary.