The quote highlights a time when more modern medical imaging technology, like sonograms, was not available. Instead, a simple spoon became a symbol or tool to measure and understand something that was not visually visible. This suggests a sense of ingenuity and adaptability in dealing with limitations in knowledge and technology.

In the context of the book "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides, this reflects themes of identity and discovery. Just as the characters navigate their personal histories and complexities, the reliance on a spoon underscores the lengths to which people go to gain understanding in an uncertain world.