The degree of frictional force as the suture material passes through tissue is known as what?

• A. Friction
• B. Drag
• C. Resistance
• D. Wear

Answer: (B)

The concept being tested is the resisting force that occurs when a suture moves through tissue. The best term for this overall frictional resistance is drag. Drag describes the total opposition the suture faces as it advances through a medium—in this case, tissue—encompassing not only surface friction at the contact interface but also the tissue’s deformation and interaction with the suture as it slides along. Friction by itself is too narrow, since it focuses only on the contact interface and not the broader resistance encountered during movement through a deformable medium. Wear refers to material loss from rubbing, which isn’t the immediate force resisting motion. Resistance is a general term and doesn’t specifically capture the dynamic opposition of moving a suture through tissue. In practice, recognizing drag helps you anticipate the effort needed to advance sutures and informs choices that reduce it, such as suture coating, size, and technique.