TissueDB/Materials/Glove
License: CC0-1.0 by Tjwood; deep-etch by Ash Crow
Gloves—including glove fingers and full procedure gloves—recreate thin-walled, flexible, elastic anatomy. Stretchability, smooth surface, and ability to form curved or tubular shapes make them suitable for modeling bowel segments, luminal walls, and sac-like structures such as the cecum or appendix. Pre-formed finger structures eliminate fabrication time while providing consistent tubular shapes for training.
Tissues
| Tissue | Visual | Tactile | Simulator | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowel | Appendectomy Simulator, Acute Appendicitis Simulator, Open Appendectomy Simulator (Matthews) | Appendectomy Simulator: standard exam glove, inverted, forms the cecum cavity; the index finger is tied off and the 4th and 5th fingers are suture ligated; the middle finger is the appendix body. Acute Appendicitis Simulator (ALL-SAFE): the 2nd finger of an inverted glove is packed with sand or dirt as the appendix, the remainder filled with cotton or gauze as the cecum, and fingers cut from a second glove are folded in half and taped to the side of the cecum as the terminal ileum. Open Appendectomy Simulator (Matthews): the base of a surgical glove forms the cecum, with auxiliary fingers 2, 4 and 5 excised; the third (middle) finger is the appendix; the thumb is repurposed as the terminal ileum at the ileocecal junction. | ||
| Blood vessel | Partial | Yes | VesselBox Vessel Ligation Trainer (Hu) | Glove finger as deformable vessel surrogate, mounted between two clamps in a four-sided pine box; 2 ligation attempts per mounted finger (Hu et al. 2015). Selected over penrose drains, IV tubing, and silicone tubing for being deformable enough to clamp and tie yet elastic enough to require steady tension; imitates larger vessels and bowel mesentery well, smaller friable vessels less well. |
Troubleshooting
Content pending — add source-traced entries only.
References
[edit source]
Overview
[edit source]Gloves are thin-walled, elastic membranes available in latex, nitrile, and vinyl. Pre-formed finger structures provide consistent tubular shapes without fabrication. Available in powder-free, textured, and sterile variants. Low cost; widely available at medical supply outlets and pharmacies worldwide.
Synonyms
[edit source]Common names: Glove, gloves, examination glove, surgical glove
Trade names: Nitrile glove, latex glove, vinyl glove, Dermatril glove, SafeSkin glove, Gammex glove
Regional terms: Gant (French), Guanto (Italian), Guante (Spanish), Handschuh (German), Handschoen (Dutch)
Forms: Latex glove, nitrile glove, vinyl glove, examination glove, surgical glove, powder-free glove, powdered glove, textured glove, smooth glove, long-cuff glove, short-cuff glove
Medical: Sterile surgical glove, non-sterile examination glove, medical-grade glove, latex-free glove, hypoallergenic glove, chlorinated glove
Shelf Life & Storage
| Temp Range | Humidity | Surface Reuse | Shelf Life | Spoilage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambient (15–25 °C) | Dry, cool storage | Single use | Multi-year (check expiry) | Latex degradation; nitrile/vinyl stable longer |
Clinical Context for Simulation
[edit source]Glove fingers provide a rapid, zero-fabrication approach to creating tubular anatomical structures for simulation. The pre-formed shape of individual fingers closely approximates the diameter of the appendix and small bowel segments, enabling learners to practise identification, manipulation, and mobilisation of tubular viscera with appropriate elastic compliance.
Processing & Preparation
[edit source]Select appropriate glove material based on training context: nitrile for latex-free environments, latex for maximum elasticity, vinyl for lowest cost. Cut individual fingers for tubular structures. Fill with water, gel, or air depending on the tissue being simulated.
Safety Considerations
[edit source]- Latex allergy — Screen participants; use nitrile or vinyl alternatives for latex-sensitive individuals.
- Single-use only — Dispose after each training session to prevent cross-contamination.
- Powder contamination — Use powder-free gloves to prevent residue on simulator components.
Related Materials
[edit source]- Latex — Base material for latex gloves
- Balloon — Similar elasticity; larger volume for organ simulation
- Condom — Alternative tubular structure for larger diameter simulation
| Authors | Arturopelayo, Ian-laurel |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-4.0 |
| Cite as | Arturopelayo, Ian-laurel (2025–2026). "TissueDB/Materials/Glove". Appropedia. Retrieved July 14, 2026. |