羊肠线

羊肠线（英语：catgut，gut）是一种由动物肠壁中天然纤维制成的线^[1]^[2]；一般以绵羊肠或山羊肠制作，但偶尔也使用牛、猪、马、骡或驴的肠子^[3]。尽管英语称 catgut，但它并不是由猫肠制成的。

英语 catgut 可能是“cattlegut”的缩写；另一种可能是其民间词源（英语：Folk etymology）为 kitgut 或 kitstring，而其中方言词 kit 源自威尔士语，义为“小提琴”^[4]。其后，kit 又与作“小猫”^[5]的意思混淆了。

制作

原材料是肉制品产业的副产品，来源包括好几种不同的动物，例如绵羊、肉牛、袋鼠、水牛、马、骡或驴。绝大部分的羊肠线是用最外层的浆膜做成，而最早期的羊肠线，是采用出生7至8个月的绵羊和羊羔肠子，刮去脂肪及其他组织，取最里层的黏膜，以碱性溶液浸泡清洗，平整后以硫磺烟熏防虫、防腐，有需要时染色；分开大小，根据用途扭成不同数量的股线。

用途

羊肠弦

羊肠弦（gut strings）是早期竖琴、小提琴、二胡等弦乐器或弓弦乐器的发声体。现在大都使用钢弦，但仍然有讲究音色的演奏家采用羊肠弦。

缝合线

医用羊肠线（英语：Catgut suture）作为手术缝合线已经有一千年以上。它可被人体吸收，缺点是受细菌感染的机会较高。

其他用途

直到现在，羊肠线也被制作成高性能网球拍的弦，但已经逐渐被复合材料取代。羊肠线也被使用在摆钟里悬挂砝码以及弓弦。

外部链接

how to make gut strings （页面存档备份，存于互联网档案馆）

^ Roenigk, Randall K.; Henry H. Roenigk. Roenigk & Roenigk's dermatologic surgery: principles and practice. CRC Press. 23 January 1996: 93. ISBN 9780824795030. Catgut sutures are made from the submucosal layer of the small intestine of sheep and the serosal layer of the small intestine of cattle.
^ Underwood, Oscar Wilder. Tariff schedules: Hearings before the Committee on ways and means. Strings for Musical Instruments (U.S. Government Printing Office). 1913: 5691 [February 27, 2010]. [T]here is no such thing as crude catgut or catgut unmanufactured. Catgut is a manufactured article and a finished product; the crude form are the intestines or guts of sheep or other animals.
^ Hiskey, Daven. Violin strings were never made out of actual cat guts. TodayIFoundOut.com. 12 November 2010 [15 December 2015]. （原始内容存档于2018-10-15）.
^ Booth, Arthur Woodward. The Preparation of Surgical Catgut. Therapeutic Gazette. 1894 [2013-10-11] –通过Books.google.com.
^ 存档副本. [2024-04-22]. （原始内容存档于2024-07-23）.

[1] Roenigk, Randall K.; Henry H. Roenigk. Roenigk & Roenigk's dermatologic surgery: principles and practice. CRC Press. 23 January 1996: 93. ISBN 9780824795030. Catgut sutures are made from the submucosal layer of the small intestine of sheep and the serosal layer of the small intestine of cattle.

[2] Underwood, Oscar Wilder. Tariff schedules: Hearings before the Committee on ways and means. Strings for Musical Instruments (U.S. Government Printing Office). 1913: 5691 [February 27, 2010]. [T]here is no such thing as crude catgut or catgut unmanufactured. Catgut is a manufactured article and a finished product; the crude form are the intestines or guts of sheep or other animals.

[3] Hiskey, Daven. Violin strings were never made out of actual cat guts. TodayIFoundOut.com. 12 November 2010 [15 December 2015]. （原始内容存档于2018-10-15）.

[4] Booth, Arthur Woodward. The Preparation of Surgical Catgut. Therapeutic Gazette. 1894 [2013-10-11] –通过Books.google.com.

[5] 存档副本. [2024-04-22]. （原始内容存档于2024-07-23）.

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