A surgical retractor (100-900) for inserting into an opening in a patient comprising: a first elongated member (110R-910R) having a proximal end and a distal end, a second elongated member (110L-910L) having a proximal end and a distal end, the second elongated member pivotally connected to the first elongated member; a first blade having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first blade operatively associated with the distal end of the first elongated member, the second end of the first blade being configured to be insertable into the opening in the patient; a second blade having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second blade operatively associated with the distal end of the second elongated member, the second end of the second blade being configured to be insertable into the opening in the patient; and a third blade having a first end and a second end, the third blade being associated with at least one of the first and second elongated members, the second end of the third blade being configured to be insertable into the opening in the patient; wherein the first and second elongated members are configured to be moved from a first position to a second position, wherein moving from the first position to the second position results in the first, second and third blades spreading apart, thereby enlarging the opening in the patient, wherein the surgical retractor further comprises a locking mechanism that is configured to lock the first and second elongated members in the second position and a biasing member that is configured to bias the first and second elongated members away from each other, and characterized by a slidable member associated with the first end of the third blade , the slidable member being connected to at least one of the first and second elongated members such that movement of the first and second blades relative to each other results in movement of the slidable member relative to the first and second elongated members . a first elongated member (110R-910R) having a proximal end and a distal end, a second elongated member (110L-910L) having a proximal end and a distal end, the second elongated member pivotally connected to the first elongated member; a first blade having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first blade operatively associated with the distal end of the first elongated member, the second end of the first blade being configured to be insertable into the opening in the patient; a second blade having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second blade operatively associated with the distal end of the second elongated member, the second end of the second blade being configured to be insertable into the opening in the patient; and a third blade having a first end and a second end, the third blade being associated with at least one of the first and second elongated members, the second end of the third blade being configured to be insertable into the opening in the patient; wherein the first and second elongated members are configured to be moved from a first position to a second position, wherein moving from the first position to the second position results in the first, second and third blades spreading apart, thereby enlarging the opening in the patient, wherein the surgical retractor further comprises a locking mechanism that is configured to lock the first and second elongated members in the second position and a biasing member that is configured to bias the first and second elongated members away from each other, and characterized by a slidable member associated with the first end of the third blade , the slidable member being connected to at least one of the first and second elongated members such that movement of the first and second blades relative to each other results in movement of the slidable member relative to the first and second elongated members . <EOS>