What are stitches used for to join healing tissue called?

Sutures are the medical term used to refer to stitches that are specifically designed for joining healing tissue. These sutures can be made from various materials, including absorbable and non-absorbable options, and are employed in a variety of clinical scenarios, such as closing surgical incisions or lacerations. The action of using sutures is known as suturing, which is a critical skill for medical professionals, as proper technique ensures optimal healing and minimizes scarring.

The term "stitches" is often used colloquially to refer to sutures, but in medical terminology, sutures have a more specific meaning regarding their purpose and application in healing wounds. The other terms - knots and threads - are components or related concepts but do not adequately describe the purpose of joining healing tissue in the same way that sutures do. Knots may refer to how sutures are secured, and threads could describe the material used, but it is sutures that specifically denote the whole system used for tissue closure.