Incised wounds: length, interrupted cuts, shape and gaping
THE CONTEXT
The dimensions and appearance of an incised wound depend on movement of the cutting edge, skin folding and the orientation of underlying muscle fibres.
Length and separate wounds from one movement
•
The length of an incised wound exceeds its width and depth. It has no relation to the length of the weapon's cutting edge because the weapon may be drawn for any distance.
•
When skin folds beneath the cutting edge, a single movement can produce several incised wounds separated by bridges of normal skin.
•
A sickle can produce a stab wound from its pointed end and an incised wound from its blade, sometimes with intervening intact skin.
•
A superficial terminal scratch, called tailing, may occur and indicates the direction of the wound.
Shape and gaping
•
Incised wounds are usually spindle-shaped because the edges retract more at the centre.
•
Gaping is greater when underlying muscle fibres are divided transversely or obliquely and less when they are divided longitudinally.
•
An incised wound crossing an irregular surface may vary in depth while remaining linear.