Incised wound – A clean, straight cut caused by a sharp edge like a knife. These wounds tend to bleed heavily due to multiple vessels being severed.

Laceration – A jagged wound caused by a tearing or crushing force which may make it appear messy. While these wounds do not tend to bleed as much as incised wounds, they often cause more damage to surrounding tissue.

Abrasion – A wound caused by a scraping force or friction. These wounds tend to not be very deep but can often contain many foreign bodies like dirt.

Puncture – A deep wound caused by a sharp, stabbing object. These wounds may appear small from the outside but may damage deep tissues.

Avulsion – A wound in which tissue is torn away from its normal position by force. These wounds may bleed a lot depending on the size and location.

Amputation – The loss of a distinct body part such as a limb, finger, toe or ear. Often very severe with large amounts of bleeding.

Here are some symptoms of cuts that need immediate medical attention:

  • if the wound is deep enough that you can see fat, muscle, or bone

  • if the wound has jagged edges or the edges are far apart

  • if the wound is long, or blood is gushing or spurting from it