Flexible support arms provide flexible mounting for devices such as illuminators and magnifiers. They are sometimes referred to as goosenecks. Flexible support arms are fastened to a table or pole with flexible support arm brackets that typically use a screw to secure the bracket to a stable base. Flexible support arms may also be used in medical applications, such as securing respiratory tubing to a patient who is on a ventilator.

In a laboratory setting, flexible support arms can be clamped to a pole for adjusting the height of the flex arm. They can also come with a variety of clamp heads, from two-prong or three-prong configurations for holding test tubes or beakers to spring clamp configurations for holding thermometers and small glass pipettes or tubes. These flexible support arms may also be used to provide support for the complex apparatus used in experiments.

Flexible support arms may occasionally need repair or the replacement of worn out parts. Flexible support arm accessories include a flexible support arm sleeve or sleeve assemblies, which are the telescoping sleeves that extend the length of the flex arm or gooseneck. Flexible support arm accessories also include tube clamps for medical appliances and the spring ball clamp which enables the flexible support arm assembly to swivel.

Some flexible support arms can be elaborate systems of lights and magnifiers used for dissection, inspection of gems, or observation of specimens. These systems are typically heavy duty and clamped to table tops or benches. Other flexible support arms used in medical facilities may be attached to bed rails or rails that are part of the instrumentation apparatus. Flexible support arms with rail mounting brackets typically have an offset knob for tightening the screw to ensure that nothing becomes snagged or entangled by the mounting bracket.