Final answer:
UV radiation is not used for sterilizing musculoskeletal tissue as it does not sufficiently penetrate surfaces, which is necessary for effective tissue sterilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sterilization is a crucial process in various settings, especially in medical fields, for assuring that medical equipment and tissues are free of infectious agents. High-level sterilization techniques like irradiation and ethylene oxide are used to eliminate all forms of microbial life, including hardy bacterial endospores and viruses. Irradiation, involves high-energy ionizing radiation capable of penetrating materials and is especially suited for heat-sensitive items. On the other hand, ethylene oxide is a gas used as a chemical sterilant for materials sensitive to heat and moisture.
Formaldehyde is also a potent chemical sterilant used in specific scenarios. However, UV radiation, while effective for surface sterilization due to its ability to induce DNA damage, cannot penetrate tissues and thus is not suitable for the comprehensive sterilization of musculoskeletal tissues. Unlike ionizing radiation, UV radiation is limited to external applications and cannot ensure the complete elimination of all microbial life within tissue.