"Popsicle stick" redirects here. For the frozen snack on this type of stick, see Ice pop.
Tongue depressor
A tongue depressor or spatula is a tool used in medical practice to depress the tongue to allow for examination of the mouth and throat. Hobbyists, artists, teachers, and confectionary makers use tongue depressors, which may also be referred to as craft sticks or popsicle sticks.
Description
A tongue depressor is a tool used in medical practice to depress the tongue to allow for examination of the mouth and throat. For this use, it is also known as a spatula.[1]
The most common modern tongue depressors are flat, thin, woodenblades, smoothed and rounded at both ends,[3] but, historically, tongue depressors have been made of a variety of materials.[4] Since they are inexpensive and difficult to clean because of their porous texture, wooden tongue depressors are labeled for disposal after a single usage.[5]
Other uses
Ice pops and ice cream bars have used wooden tongue depressors to hold the confection, leading to the name popsicle sticks.Hobbyists, artists, and teachers use wooden tongue depressors in sculptural projects, which has led to the name craft sticks. [6][7]
References
^"Spatula", Collins Dictionary of Medicine, Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005
^Cohen, J Solis. Diseases of the Throat and Nasal Passages: A Guide to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Affections of the Pharynx, Oesophagus, Trachea, Larynx, and Nares. Chapter II, Examination of the Throat and Nasal Passages. Published by W. Wood, 1884, 742 pp.
