The fibers or filaments obtained from the cocoon of the silkworm.
- surgical s. thread prepared from the cocoon filaments of glutinous gum that are spun by the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori; can be obtained in various sizes and used as suture material.
- virgin s. an extremely fine ophthalmic suture material consisting of two to seven natural s. filaments bonded together by sericin, a natural adhesive.
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silk 'silk n
1) a fine continuous protein fiber produced by various insect larvae usu. for cocoons esp a lustrous tough elastic fiber produced by silkworms and used for textiles
2) strands of silk thread of various thicknesses used as suture material in surgery <surgical \silk>
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(silk) the protein filament produced by the larvae of various insects; braided, degummed silk obtained from the cocoons of the silkworm Bombyx mori is used as a nonabsorbable suture material.Medical dictionary. 2011.