Sutures and Wound Repair/ General Surgery (ABSA) Practice Test

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Enhance your knowledge in General Surgery with our Sutures and Wound Repair test. Tackle multiple-choice questions with detailed explanations to ensure readiness for your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

Who discovered that the body absorbs sutures made from animal tissues?

William Harvey
Philip Syng Physick
Joseph Lister
Hippocrates

The correct answer is: Philip Syng Physick

Philip Syng Physick is credited with the discovery that the body absorbs sutures made from animal tissues. His work in the early 19th century contributed to the understanding of surgical materials, specifically the use of catgut sutures, which are made from the intestines of animals. Physick's observations helped establish that these sutures could be a viable option because they would eventually be absorbed by the body, allowing for a more natural healing process without the need for suture removal. This was a significant advancement in surgical practices, reflecting an early understanding of the body's ability to heal and interact with various materials used in surgery. The context of other options helps clarify this achievement. While William Harvey is known for his work on the circulation of blood, Joseph Lister is famous for his contributions to antisepsis in surgery, and Hippocrates is often regarded as the father of medicine with a focus on clinical observation and ethics rather than the specific mechanics of wound repair. Thus, knowing Physick's contributions in relation to the absorption of sutures underlines his role in surgical history and the evolution of wound treatment practices.