How can you differentiate an abrasion from other types of wounds?

An abrasion is characterized by the removal of the top layer of skin, often described as a scrape. This type of wound results from friction against a rough surface, leading to the loss of superficial skin layers, but not deeper tissues. This is why the distinction made in your answer is accurate; an abrasion visibly reveals the underlying skin and may present as red or raw, frequently with minimal bleeding.

In contrast to the other options, an abrasion does not involve tearing of the skin (that would characterize a laceration) and it may indeed bleed, although the bleeding typically is less than that associated with deeper wounds. Additionally, abrasions can occur anywhere on the body, not limited to the limbs, which further underscores the distinction from other injury types defined by depth and area affected.