Final answer:
Bone wax is the mechanical method of hemostasis from the given options as it physically blocks the bleeding from bones. Other options like silver nitrate, oxidized cellulose, and argon plasma work through chemical and thermal methods, not mechanical.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mechanical Method of Hemostasis
Hemostasis is the physiological process that stops bleeding at the site of an injury. One mechanical method of hemostasis mentioned here is bone wax. Bone wax is a waxy substance that is applied directly to bone during surgery to mechanically stop bleeding by physically blocking the holes in the bone where blood vessels pass through.
On the other hand, substances like silver nitrate and oxidized cellulose work through chemical means—silver nitrate is used for its cauterizing and antiseptic properties, while oxidized cellulose promotes clot formation. Argon plasma, which involves using ionized argon gas, is a method for achieving hemostasis via thermal coagulation. It is not considered a mechanical method.
Hemostasis involves three basic steps: vascular spasm, the formation of a platelet plug, and coagulation. In the case of bone wax, it acts as a physical barrier, similar to how a platelet plug can temporarily seal a small breach in a vessel.