Catgut is made from intestine of?

Appeared in: BCCL kharkhanda Staff Nurse - 2015

Explanation

Catgut is a natural absorbable suture made from the purified collagen of animal intestines.
The primary source is the submucosal layer of a sheep's intestine. It can also be derived from the serosal layer of a cow's (beef) intestine.
The name 'catgut' is a historical misnomer and has no connection to cats. It likely originated from 'kitgut,' meaning the string for a small fiddle or 'kit'.

Option A: This is a common misconception based on the name. Catgut sutures are not derived from domestic cats.
Option B: Similar to domestic cats, wild cats are not used to produce catgut sutures. The name is misleading.
Option D: While catgut is made from animal intestines, horses are not the standard commercial source for this surgical material. The primary sources are sheep and cattle.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Origin and properties of catgut suture material as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Catgut sutures are used to close tissues that heal relatively quickly, such as in some gynecological procedures or for ligating small blood vessels.
Because it is a foreign protein, catgut tends to cause a higher inflammatory reaction in tissues compared to synthetic absorbable sutures (e.g., Vicryl, Monocryl), which are absorbed more predictably by hydrolysis.
The use of catgut has declined in many areas in favor of synthetic sutures, which offer better tensile strength, less tissue reactivity, and more predictable absorption rates.

How to Approach the Question

Identify the keyword 'Catgut' in the question stem.
Recognize this is a factual recall question about the origin of a specific medical material.
Recall or deduce that the name 'catgut' is a well-known historical misnomer and it is not derived from cats. This immediately eliminates the options involving cats.
Between the remaining animal options, recall the standard commercial source for surgical catgut.
Select the option that correctly identifies sheep as the primary source.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Q5dupX4XYZ8B8-xb6UUVMT

E6 Nursing Brunner Adult Health 3SA Vol 1 Part 1 p. 81-83

E6 Gynecology Williams p. 430-440

Practise the full BCCL kharkhanda Staff Nurse - 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.