A picture of a dental surveyor is shown. What is its primary goal?

Correct answer: A. Measure the undercut

• A. Correct (keyed). The surveyor's core job is to analyze the cast for usable and unwanted undercuts, establish the path of insertion, and locate retentive areas for clasps.
• B. Wax patterns are made on dies/casts with waxing instruments, not the surveyor.
• C. The framework is cast in the laboratory; the surveyor only plans/designs where it will sit.
• D. Closely related: the survey line IS the height of contour, and the surveyor draws it to separate undercut from non-undercut areas. Many texts list this too — but the keyed 'primary goal' here is locating/measuring undercuts.

Note: Borderline item: D (height of contour) is part of the same task. The keyed answer is A.