Laceration

/læsəˈreɪʃən/ noun

Definition

A deep cut or tearing of skin or tissue, usually from a sharp or rough object.

Etymology

From Latin 'lacerare' meaning to tear or mangle, with the suffix '-tion' added to make it a noun. It entered English in the 1400s as a medical term.

Kelly Says

A 'laceration' is different from a clean surgical cut—it's a jagged, torn wound that's harder to stitch perfectly. Doctors distinguish between different wound types because they heal differently and scar differently.

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