Basic Knot
The Anatomy of a Square Knot
Wayne W. LaMorte, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.
Photography by Michael J. LaMorte
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A square knot consists of two “throws”. |
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Throws are constructed by crossing the ends of the suture to form a loop and then wrapping one end of the suture around the other.
Here, the short end has been crossed over the long end to form a loop. |
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The short end has been wrapped around the long end by passing it under the long end and up through the loop to complete the first “throw”. |
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The loop for the second throw is initiated by once again crossing the short end over the long strand from right to left.
[NOTE: A "granny knot" results if the short end crosses above the long end for one loop and below it for the other.] |
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The short end has been wrapped around the long end a second time by passing it under the long end and up through the loop to complete the second “throw”. |
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The knot has now been tightened, and the result is a square knot.
Each of the techniques for tying square knots (one hand tie, two hand tie, or instrument tie) achieves the same steps illustrated here. |
