What is the primary material used in chromic gut sutures?

The primary material used in chromic gut sutures is collagen. Chromic gut sutures are derived from the intestinal submucosa of sheep or cattle, which is predominantly composed of collagen. The collagen provides the necessary tensile strength for the sutures, enabling them to effectively hold tissues together during the healing process.

Furthermore, chromic gut sutures undergo a process where they are treated with chromium salts, which delays their absorption by the body, allowing them to maintain their integrity for a longer duration compared to plain gut sutures. This characteristic is particularly beneficial in surgical procedures where prolonged support is needed as the tissue heals.

The other options, while used for various purposes in medical and surgical applications, do not represent the material composition of chromic gut sutures. Synthetic polymers are frequently used in modern sutures for their durability and versatility, silk is known for being a non-absorbable suture material with unique properties but is not based on collagen, and cellulose does not play a role in the fabrication of sutures used in surgical procedures.