A surgical instrument consisting of a handle with a small scoop, loop, or sharp edge at the end, used to scrape tissue or debris from body surfaces or cavities.
From French 'curette,' ultimately derived from Old French 'curer' meaning 'to clean.' The term entered English medical vocabulary in the 18th century and became standard surgical terminology.
The curette is one of those surgical tools that looks deceptively simple but requires real skill—in the hands of a trained doctor, it can gently remove tissue without causing major damage.
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