A surgical retractor (100,100a,200,500,600,700,800,900) for inserting into an opening in a patient comprising: a first elongated member (110R,210R,510R,610R,710R,810R, 910R) having a proximal end (111R,511R,711R,811R,911R) and a distal end (112R,212R), a second elongated member (110L,210L,510L,610L,710L,810L, 910L) having a proximal end (111L,511L,711L,811L,911L) and a distal end (112L,212L), the second elongated member (110L,210L,510L,610L, 710L,810L,910L) pivotally connected to the first elongated member (110R,210R,510R,610R,710R,810R,910R), and the distal ends (112R, 212R,112L,212L) of the first elongated member (110R,210R,510R,610R, 710R,810R,910R) and the second elongated member (110L,210L,510L, 610L,710L,810L,910L) being spread apart when the proximal ends (111R,511R,711R,811R,911R,111L,511L,711L,811L,911L) of the first elongated member (110R,210R,510R,610R,710R,810R,910R) and the second elongated member (110L,210L,510L,610L,710L,810L,910L) are drawn together; a first blade (113R,213R,513R) having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first blade (113R,213R,513R) operatively associated with the distal end (112R,212R) of the first elongated member (110R,210R,510R,610R,710R,810R,910R), the second end of the first blade (113R,213R,513R) being configured to be insertable into the opening in the patient; a second blade (113L,213L,513L) having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second blade (113L,213L,513L) operatively associated with the distal end (112L,212L) of the second elongated member (110L,210L,510L,610L,710L,810L,910L), the second end of the second blade (113L,213L,513L) being configured to be insertable into the opening in the patient; and a third blade (134,234,534,634,834,934) having a first end and a second end, the third blade (134,234,534,634,834,934) being associated with at least one of the first and second elongated members (110R,210R,510R,610R,710R,810R,910R,110L,210L,510L,610L,710L,810 L,910L), the second end of the third blade (134,234,534,634,834,934) being configured to be insertable into the opening in the patient. a first elongated member (110R,210R,510R,610R,710R,810R, 910R) having a proximal end (111R,511R,711R,811R,911R) and a distal end (112R,212R), a second elongated member (110L,210L,510L,610L,710L,810L, 910L) having a proximal end (111L,511L,711L,811L,911L) and a distal end (112L,212L), the second elongated member (110L,210L,510L,610L, 710L,810L,910L) pivotally connected to the first elongated member (110R,210R,510R,610R,710R,810R,910R), and the distal ends (112R, 212R,112L,212L) of the first elongated member (110R,210R,510R,610R, 710R,810R,910R) and the second elongated member (110L,210L,510L, 610L,710L,810L,910L) being spread apart when the proximal ends (111R,511R,711R,811R,911R,111L,511L,711L,811L,911L) of the first elongated member (110R,210R,510R,610R,710R,810R,910R) and the second elongated member (110L,210L,510L,610L,710L,810L,910L) are drawn together; a first blade (113R,213R,513R) having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first blade (113R,213R,513R) operatively associated with the distal end (112R,212R) of the first elongated member (110R,210R,510R,610R,710R,810R,910R), the second end of the first blade (113R,213R,513R) being configured to be insertable into the opening in the patient; a second blade (113L,213L,513L) having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second blade (113L,213L,513L) operatively associated with the distal end (112L,212L) of the second elongated member (110L,210L,510L,610L,710L,810L,910L), the second end of the second blade (113L,213L,513L) being configured to be insertable into the opening in the patient; and a third blade (134,234,534,634,834,934) having a first end and a second end, the third blade (134,234,534,634,834,934) being associated with at least one of the first and second elongated members (110R,210R,510R,610R,710R,810R,910R,110L,210L,510L,610L,710L,810 L,910L), the second end of the third blade (134,234,534,634,834,934) being configured to be insertable into the opening in the patient.