Select the most appropriate option to substitute the bracketed segment in the given sentence. If there is no need to substitute it, select 'no substitution required'.

Some of them were nearly (as hard as ligament, and many an inch in length).

A

as hard as ligaments, and many were an inch long

B

No substitution required

C

hard as ligament and many an inch at length

D

as hard as a ligament and many an inches in length