Nylon is what type of suture:

• A. Absorbable, natural
• B. Absorbable, synthetic
• C. Nonabsorbable, natural
• D. Nonabsorbable, synthetic

Answer: (D)

Nylon is a nonabsorbable, synthetic suture. It’s a synthetic polymer (polyamide) that isn’t broken down by the body, so it maintains its tensile strength over time and isn’t absorbed. Absorbable sutures (such as natural gut or synthetic materials like Vicryl) are designed to degrade and be absorbed, which nylon is not. Natural sutures come from animal or plant sources (like silk or gut), whereas nylon is a synthetic option. This combination—nonabsorbable and synthetic—is why nylon fits best here. Nylon is often used where long-lasting strength is desired, such as skin closures, due to good knot security and relatively low tissue reactivity.