Which is defined as inflicting physical injury on a spouse or cohabitant under California Penal Code?

The definition of inflicting physical injury on a spouse or cohabitant under California law is specifically described in the context of "corporal injury to spouse or cohabitant." This statute recognizes the severity of domestic violence and emphasizes the need for protection and legal recourse for individuals who may be victims of such violence. Corporal injury is characterized by the infliction of any physical injury that results in trauma, regardless of the severity.

The other options—child battery, sodomy, and lewd acts with a child—relate to different criminal scenarios that do not specifically address physical injury within intimate relationships between spouses or cohabitants. Child battery pertains to the harm of minors, while sodomy and lewd acts with a child involve sexual offenses that are not connected to violence or injury against a spouse or cohabitant. Thus, the selection of "corporal injury to spouse or cohabitant" accurately reflects the focus of the California Penal Code on safeguarding individuals within domestic environments.