The low energy part of Raman scattering (electronic and phononic) was investigated in optimally doped single crystal Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8+ x , in an attempt to get additional insight into the polarization dependence of the electronic continua and the superconducting order parameter, deduced from the continua redistribution below the transition temperature. We find from phonon spectra evidence of a pronounced orthorhombicity in the Bi 2Sr 2CaCu 2O 8+ x crystal, while electronic response obeys tetragonal symmetry both in the normal and superconducting states. This suggests that both the continua and the superconductivity originate from carriers in the nearly tetragonal CuO 2 planes.