Which description best defines a laceration?

• A. A smooth-edged cut.
• B. Jagged tear caused by a sharp object.
• C. A scrape of the epidermis.
• D. A portion of skin torn away, leaving a flap.

Answer: (B)

A laceration is a tear in the skin and underlying tissues with irregular, jagged edges. That jagged, uneven border is the key feature that distinguishes it from other wound types. An incision is a smooth-edged cut made by a sharp instrument, a scrape is an abrasion that removes superficial skin, and an avulsion involves tissue being torn away and possibly left with a flap. So the jagged tear describes the wound most accurately, reflecting tissue disruption rather than a clean slice, superficial scrape, or detached flap.