Incising

Incising is the act of making an incision or shallow cut into a surface or tissue, usually with a sharp instrument such as a scalpel, knife, or chisel. The term is used across medicine, crafts, and archaeology to describe the deliberate creation of grooves, openings, or markings by cutting.

In medical practice, incising is a fundamental step in surgery, enabling access to underlying tissues or organs. Incisions are planned to minimize tissue damage and to facilitate healing; they vary in length, orientation, and depth. Proper technique, asepsis, and closure are essential to reduce risks such as bleeding, infection, and scarring.

In cooking and food preparation, incising refers to making shallow cuts in surfaces such as meat or fish to improve marination, texture, or cooking rate. In bread making, scoring the dough with blades directs its expansion during baking, shaping the final crust.

In archaeology and art, incising describes decorating a surface by scratching or cutting lines into it. Incised pottery, bone, or wood features grooves or patterns produced by a sharp tool. This contrasts with stamping, carving, or engraving, and is valued for its linear, often geometric or figurative designs across many cultures and periods.

In manufacturing and crafts, incising may refer to scoring or grooving a surface to guide assembly or further processing, such as in woodworking or metalworking.

Origin and terminology: The word derives from Latin incidere, “to cut into.” An incision is the resulting cut, while incising denotes the act or process of creating it.