Catgut

catgut or gut, cord made from the intestines of various animals (especially sheep and horses, but not cats). The membrane is chemically treated, and slender strands are woven together into cords of great strength, which are used for stringing musical instruments such as the violin and the harp. Roman strings, imported from Italy, are considered the best for musical instruments. Catgut is also used for stringing tennis rackets and for some surgical sutures.

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catgut [′kat‚gət]

(materials)

A thin cord made from the submucosa of sheep and other animal intestine; used for sutures and ligatures, for strings of musical instruments, and for tennis racket strings. Also known as gut.

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Catgut 

cord made from the intestines of small cattle; a surgical sewing material. Catgut is used for internal sutures and for ligating blood vessels during operations. Catgut sutures are sometimes used externally under plaster casts. Catgut is absorbed by the tissues after seven to 30 days. [12–191–]