incision
Meaning of incision: An incision is a deliberate surgical cut made through skin and underlying tissue to access the area being treated during an operation.
Definition of incision
An incision is a controlled cut made into the body, typically through the skin and underlying tissue, to allow access for a surgical procedure. Incisions are planned in advance based on the operation being performed, taking into account the structures that need to be reached and, when possible, cosmetic and healing considerations.
The location, length, and depth of an incision vary widely depending on the type of surgery, ranging from a small incision used for a minimally invasive or laparoscopic procedure to a larger incision required for an open operation. After the procedure, an incision is typically closed with sutures, staples, adhesive, or another closure method to allow healing.
How an incision heals, including the appearance of the resulting scar, depends on factors such as its size, location, closure technique, and the individual's own healing process.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
The surgeon closed the abdominal incision with sutures at the end of the procedure.
Good to know
An incision is the surgical opening created to access tissue, distinct from a laceration, which is an unplanned tear or cut in the skin resulting from injury.
Word origin
Where “incision” comes from
From Latin incisio, meaning "a cutting into," from incidere, formed from in- ("into") and caedere ("to cut").