Which of the following is a characteristic of an incision?

The characteristic that highlights the nature of an incision is the absence of tissue bridging. An incision is a clean cut generally made by a sharp instrument, which results in straight edges and, crucially, does not leave any bridging of tissue between the edges of the wound. This is a key differentiator from abrasions or lacerations, where tissue bridging can often be seen due to the tearing or scraping action involved.

In contrast, irregular edges are typically associated with lacerations rather than incisions, where forceful trauma causes jagged wounds. Bruising is generally more evident with wounds caused by blunt force trauma, like contusions or lacerations, rather than with incisions. Shallow depth is not inherently characteristic of incisions; they can vary in depth depending on the force applied and the sharpness of the cutting instrument. Thus, the feature of 'no tissue bridging' unmistakably defines incisions in forensic contexts.