A state of separation and/or tension created by pulling or stretching, especially when exerted on the anatomy (e.g., pulling against an extremity for treatment or labial traction for assessment). In reference to sexual assault examination in women, traction refers specifically to the act of both spreading apart in conjunction with pulling outward of the labia majora to better visualize the hymen and introitus for assessment.
The contents of this glossary is funded in part through a sub-award from RTI as the lead partner for the National Institute of Justice’s Forensic Technology Center of Excellence through a Cooperative Agreement from the National Institute of Justice (2011-DN-BX-K564 and 2016-MU-BK-K110), Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor any of its components operate, control, are responsible for, or necessarily endorse, this website (including, without limitation, its content, technical infrastructure, and policies and any services or tools provided).