What is the term for the instrument used to cut?

The term "Tome" is derived from the Greek word "tomos," meaning "to cut." In medical terminology, it refers to a cutting instrument, often associated with surgical procedures. The use of "tome" in this context is more specific to instruments designed for precise cutting in anatomy or surgery, such as a tome knife or a surgical tome, which are employed for dissections or to make fine cuts in tissues.

While a scalpel is indeed a common cutting tool used in surgery, and a knife can refer to a broader category of cutting instruments, "tome" is the term that specifically emphasizes the function of cutting in a more formal and anatomical sense. The term "knife blade" also refers to part of a cutting tool but doesn't encapsulate the specialized function implied by "tome." Hence, "tome" is the most correct answer in the context of the terminology related to cutting instruments.