Which statement correctly describes a 3rd-degree burn?

• A. No pain from damaged nerves
• B. Blisters and painful
• C. Red and painful
• D. Involves muscle and bone

Answer: (A)

Third-degree burns are full-thickness injuries that destroy both the epidermis and dermis, and often extend into deeper tissues. Because the nerve endings in the burned area are destroyed, the area itself is typically painless, even though surrounding tissue may be very painful to touch or thermal stimulus. The appearance is usually dry and leathery, and the color can be white, brown, or charred rather than red and blistered.

This painless aspect is the best way to describe a third-degree burn among the options. Blisters and pain are more characteristic of second-degree injuries, red and painful describes milder, superficial burns, and involvement of muscle or bone points to burns that extend past the skin layers (deeper than third-degree).