incision

An incision is made by a sharp cutting object, such as a knife (scalpel) or a piece of glass. The margins of the incision are usually relatively clean, and there are no bridging strands of tissue.

The incision, in contrast with the laceration, can usually be neatly approximated by sutures, leaving little or no scar. Deep tissues and organs may sustain lacerations from an external blow with or without apparent superficial injury. For example, when the unrestrained body impacts on the steering wheel in a head-on collision, the liver or spleen may sustain fatal lacerations.