Incised wounds
- Finding
An incised wound is made by an edge drawn across the skin; it is longer than deep and has clean edges.
What it is
An incised wound (herida cortante) is made when an edged object (knife, razor, glass) is drawn across the skin. It is longer than deep, with clean edges and no tissue bridges. Its danger depends on what lies beneath: on the neck or the front of the forearm it can divide vessels and nerves. Forensically, the number, site and orientation of the wounds matter, as do hesitation marks or defence wounds, which point towards, but do not prove on their own, the manner in which they were made.
How to tell it apart
- Versus a laceration: a laceration has bruised edges and tissue bridges.
- Versus a stab wound: a stab wound is deeper than long.
- Self-injury: sites within reach of the dominant hand (wrists, neck), parallel wounds and hesitation marks; clothing often moved aside.
- Assault: wounds at varied sites, defence wounds, clothing cut in line with the wounds.
How to recognise it
- A linear or slightly curved wound with clean, straight edges.
- The edges gape more when it crosses the skin's tension lines.
- Smooth base, no tissue bridges.
- Sharp ends; often a superficial tail at the far end.
How it forms
- The edge moves tangentially to the skin and divides the tissues cleanly.
- Pressure is usually greater at the start and eases towards the end of the stroke.
- Severity depends on the vessels, nerves or tendons it crosses.
Step by step
- Count and number each wound; do not write "multiple wounds".
- Measure length and estimated depth; record orientation and position against anatomical landmarks.
- Describe edges, ends and tails; record the structures injured.
- Look for hesitation marks and defence wounds.
- Examine the clothing: cuts, their position and whether they match the wounds.
Next step: what to do and document
- Control bleeding and treat; if there is a forensic question, photograph with a scale before suturing when possible.
- Number and describe each wound separately; record the structures injured and the repair done.
- Keep the clothing without cutting through existing defects and hand it over with chain of custody.
- If self-injury is suspected, assess suicide risk and arrange mental-health care; if assault is suspected, follow the reporting pathway.
Common mistakes
- Calling a straight laceration over bone an "incised wound".
- Stating in the clinical record that a wound is "suicidal" or "homicidal".
- Cutting clothing through the defects left by the weapon.
- Missing hesitation marks or defence wounds, which are often small.
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
What is the relation between length and depth in an incised wound?
It is longer than deep; a stab wound, by contrast, is deeper than long.
What are hesitation marks?
Superficial, parallel incised wounds at accessible sites such as the wrists or neck, next to the main wound; they point to self-injury.
How can an incised wound suggest the direction of the cut?
It is often deeper at the start and ends in a superficial tail at the far end.
Should the doctor write that a wound is homicidal or suicidal?
No. The doctor describes and documents the findings; the manner is established by the authority on all the evidence.
Elsewhere in DurgiPedia
Connections
Educational content on forensic and legal medicine; not legal advice and no substitute for the technical guides of Colombia's National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences. Laws change: each page links the official text and says when it was last checked. For a real case, follow the guide in force and ask the competent authority.
Sources: Trauma Forensics in Blunt and Sharp Force Injuries (Journal of the West African College of Surgeons (PMC), 2022); Fatal and nonfatal sharp force injuries to the limbs: a study of forensic autopsies in Sweden (2010–2019) (International Journal of Legal Medicine (PMC), 2025).
Spotted a mistake?We are always improving for the community. Tell us what is wrong and our team will review it.Report a mistake
Representative model, for educational purposes only.