An abrasion is best described as?

• A. A scrape or road rash.
• B. Deep puncture wound.
• C. A clean cut from a sharp blade.
• D. A tearing injury with no bleeding.

Answer: (A)

An abrasion is a superficial skin wound caused by friction that wears away the outer layer of skin. It’s best described as a scrape or road rash because the surface skin is rubbed off, often with some surface bleeding and possible dirt in the wound. This differs from a deep puncture wound, which is a narrow hole that penetrates deeper tissues; from a clean cut, which is a neat, linear opening made by a sharp blade and can be deeper; and from a tearing injury with no bleeding, which involves tissue damage without clear skin loss. For care, rinse the area to remove debris, gently pat dry, apply antibiotic ointment, and cover with a clean dressing to reduce infection risk. Seek medical attention if dirt remains, bleeding is heavy, or infection signs appear.