Which term refers to the action of closing or sealing a structure, such as a blood vessel, by placing a ligature?

• A. Approximation
• B. Ligate
• C. Bandage
• D. Absorbable suture

Answer: (B)

Ligate describes the act of closing or sealing a structure, such as a blood vessel, by placing a ligature and tying it off to stop blood flow. This tying off is a common surgical technique to achieve hemostasis. Approximation means bringing tissue edges together, which is about alignment rather than tying off a vessel. A bandage is just external dressing, and an absorbable suture is a dissolving stitching material, not the action of placing a ligature.