Which term describes a sharp, clean cut?

• A. Laceration
• B. Incision
• C. Abrasion
• D. Penetrating wound

Answer: (B)

A clean, sharp cut is described as an incision. It’s the term used for a cut made with a sharp instrument, like a scalpel, producing smooth, well-defined edges that are easy to close. This contrasts with lacerations, which come from blunt trauma and have irregular, jagged edges due to tearing of tissue. Abrasions are superficial scrapes that remove the outer skin layers rather than creating a true cut. Penetrating wounds involve an object entering the body and focus on the entry point and tissue channel rather than the edge quality, and their edges aren’t necessarily clean. So the best term for a sharp, clean cut is incision.