Which open soft-tissue injury is limited to the superficial layer of the skin and results in the least amount of blood loss?

• A. Abrasion
• B. Avulsion
• C. Laceration
• D. Incision

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how deep the skin injury goes. An abrasion stays at the surface, affecting only the epidermis (and perhaps a very superficial dermal layer). Because it doesn’t disrupt deeper blood vessels, bleeding is minimal. That’s why it has the least blood loss among common open skin injuries.

In contrast, an avulsion involves tearing away tissue, often producing a flap and more significant bleeding. A laceration is a tearing wound that can reach deeper into the dermis and underlying tissues, again with more potential bleeding. An incision is a clean-cut wound from a sharp object; depending on depth, it can involve deeper vessels and bleed more than a superficial abrasion.