To tie off and close a structure, such as a severed blood vessel, is to ...

• A. Approximation
• B. Bandage
• C. Ligate
• D. Retractor

Answer: (C)

The action described is ligation. To ligate means to tie a structure, such as a blood vessel, with a ligature to occlude it and stop flow. This is a common surgical step to prevent bleeding or to close off a duct or vessel.

Approximation is about bringing tissue edges together, which helps with wound closure but isn’t specifically about tying off a vessel. A bandage is used to cover and protect a wound, not to seal a vessel. A retractor is a instrument used to hold tissue away for better access and view, not to close or tie anything.