A blade system configured for use with a surgical retractor comprising a blade body and a blade body surround. The blade body includes a retractor attachment structure engagable with a blade body mounting structure of the surgical retractor. The retractor attachment structure is configured for allowing the blade body to be independently pivotable about and translatable along the blade body mounting structure. The blade body surround includes a slot within a sidewall thereof. The blade body surround and the blade body are jointly configured to form a generally cylindrical-shaped structure when the blade body is in a seated position within the slot.
