A cut, also called a laceration, is a break or opening in the skin. The cut may be deep, smooth, or jagged. It may be near the surface of the skin, or affect deep tissues, such as tendons, muscles, ligaments, nerves, blood vessels, or bone.

A puncture is a wound made by a pointed object (such as a nail, knife, or sharp tooth).

Wound - cut or puncture; Open wound; Laceration; Puncture wound

Images

First aid kit

Snake bite

Laceration versus puncture wound

Stitches

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Cuts and puncture wounds Symptoms

Review Date: 01/04/2011
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)