What's In the Operating Room? Trivia Quiz

Hair coverings are required to stop the non-sterile hair of healthcare professionals from falling into any open wounds on the patient. This prevents cross-contamination, and decreases the risk of infection.

Bright lights are essential in the OR so healthcare professionals can see what they are doing. Sometimes, surgeons wear headbands with very bright lights that focus a beam on exactly what needs to be seen.

Scrubs are another name for the sterile clothing that is worn by healthcare professionals in the OR. This always includes a wraparound tunic-like top, that usually ties in the back, and often bottoms too. The scrubs serve two purposes - they prevent germs from the clothing the healthcare professionals are wearing from contaminating the scene, and they also keep the professionals clean by keeping blood and other liquids off their skin and clothing.

Rubber gloves are another item that protect both the patient and professionals by forming a barrier between the skin of the professional and the patient. They are disposable, so any potential contamination with infection or disease from the patient can be easily contained with proper disposal at the end of the operation.

X-Ray machines are not seen in all operating rooms, but they are found in some where professionals need to see inside the body in order to do their work. For example, the machines are commonly used by orthopaedic surgeons who need to see the bones that they are operating on.

An IV pole is used in the OR to hang intravenous bags or bottles of fluid. There is usually a T-shaped bar at the top that allows for the hanging of two bags/bottles. The fluid is used in a variety of ways in the OR (see #7).

The intravenous (IV) bag or bottle is hung above the patient. There is a small-diameter hose at the bottom of the bag, at the end of which is a needle. When the needle is inserted into the patient's vein, various liquids can be quickly and effectively administered using the power of gravity.

These might include saline, blood, plasma, antibiotics and other medications, and medication for general anaesthetic. The rate at which the fluid is administered is controlled with a gauge on the IV hose.

Face masks are another way to lower the risk of cross-contamination in the OR. They protect patients from any airborne germs that the healthcare professionals may have, but also protect the professionals from any airborne diseases that the patient may have.

This protection happens when the professionals' breathing is filtered through the cloth, preventing any germs they may have from getting out, and preventing any germs the patient may have from getting in.

If an X-ray machine is used in the OR, professionals will use a screen like the one marked in the photo for a live shot of what is happening inside the body as the operation proceeds. Sometimes, a surgeon will look at the screen while performing the operation rather than look down at the patient. Here, one can see a human bone that is being operated on.

A sterile sheet is usually laid over the patient while they are on the operating table. Again, this is to protect the patient and the professionals from potential cross-contamination if any of them have any germs on them. In some cases, there is a small window in the sheet that allows the surgeon access to the area that needs their attention.