A surgical instrument used to cut thin slices of skin, especially for skin grafts or examining tissue samples.
From Greek 'derma' (skin) + 'tome' (cutting tool), literally 'skin cutter.' This medical term emerged in the 19th century when surgeons needed specialized instruments for precise skin surgery.
Dermatotomes revolutionized burn treatment and reconstructive surgery by allowing doctors to harvest very thin, uniform sheets of skin that could cover large wounded areas while minimizing damage to the donor site.
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