Which wound type is a graze?

• A. Graze
• B. Puncture
• C. Incision
• D. Laceration

Answer: (A)

A graze is a shallow skin abrasion—the outer layer of skin is worn away by friction from a rough surface. It happens when you slide or skid and the surface scrapes off the top skin, often leaving a scraped, red, and sometimes slightly bleeding area. It’s not a deep hole, not a clean cut, and not a tearing wound.

Puncture wounds come from a pointed object making a small hole and can go deeper than they look. Incisions are clean, straight cuts made by a sharp blade with smooth edges. Lacerations are tears in tissue with irregular, jagged edges, usually from blunt force. Because a graze involves only the surface layer, it best fits the description of a superficial abrasion.