What type of wound occurs when the outer skin layer is rubbed away?

An abrasion is characterized by the scraping away of the outer layer of skin, commonly resulting from friction against a rough surface. This type of wound typically does not penetrate deeply into the skin and may cause minor bleeding or pain. Abrasions are often seen in activities that involve sliding or falling, such as sports or accidents, where the skin is rubbed against a hard surface.

In contrast, an incision refers to a clean cut made by a sharp object, a contusion describes a bruise caused by trauma to blood vessels without breaking the skin, and a bruise specifically refers to the discoloration resulting from blood pooling under the skin from damaged vessels. Each of these terms describes different types of injuries that do not involve the same scraping action that defines an abrasion.