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In an electrical burn injury, where is the current most intense?
At the entrance and the exit points
Throughout the affected area
Only at the burn site
Near major organs
The correct answer is: At the entrance and the exit points
In an electrical burn injury, the current is most intense at the entrance and exit points because these are the areas through which the electrical current enters and exits the body. When electricity passes through a person, it will follow the path of least resistance, which typically includes the skin at the points of entry and exit. The tissues around these points may experience the highest thermal damage due to the intense energy concentration, leading to more severe burns in comparison to areas further away from the path of the current. This phenomenon occurs because electrical energy converts to heat as it passes through resistive tissue, primarily evident at these entry and exit points. While injuries may occur throughout the path the current takes, the delineation of burn severity is most pronounced at the points of entry and exit, making these areas critical for assessment and treatment.