A laceration is injury to the skin that results in the skin being cut or torn open. Lacerations can be shallow, only injuring the surface skin, or deep, causing injury to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, blood vessels or nerves. Lacerations are most commonly made by some sort of blunt trauma such as being hit with a fist or baseball bat. Unlike an incision wound, a laceration is generally jagged because the skin is torn instead of cut.
A puncture wound is created when a sharp object enters the skin. These wounds are usually small and do not bleed a lot. Although these wounds tend to close over quickly, they still need treatment as infection is a possibility. Puncture wounds are prone to a tetanus infection, so it is important to seek medical advice for any puncture wound. Common types of puncture wounds include stepping on a nail or bites from animals.