Forensics - Physical Injury

Question 1

Abrasions

Answer 1

Damage to epidermis - “scrapes”

- Greater or lesser hemorrhage beneath

Question 2

Abrasions are caused by?

Answer 2

Tangential blunt force

Question 3

Contusions

Answer 3

Intact skin with hemorrhage in dermis below - “bruise”

Question 4

Contusions are caused by?

Answer 4

Blunt force

Question 5

Contusions tend to change colors as healing progresses. What is signified if the contusion is yellow?

Answer 5

Older than 18 hours

Question 6

Are all bruises considered contusions?

Answer 6

NO - contusions are solely from blunt force trauma

Question 7

Lacerations

Answer 7

Splitting of skin with hemorrhagic bridges in depths

- Wider than they are deep!

Question 8

Lacerations are caused by?

Answer 8

Blunt force that overcomes tensile properties of skin

Question 9

Incise wounds

Answer 9

Splitting of skin WITHOUT bridges in depths

- Deeper than they are wide!

Question 10

Incise wounds are caused by?

Answer 10

Sharp objects - knives, razors, etc.

Question 11

What are examples of chronic disorders than can cause more severe bleeding at wound sites?

Answer 11

1. Renal disease (due to HTN and diabetes)
2. Liver disease (due to alcohol abuse)
3. Autoimmune, coagulation or neoplastic disorders

Question 12

With blunt force trauma, the risk for what increases?

Answer 12

Intracranial hemorrhage and bleeding into organs and body cavities

Question 13

With blunt force trauma, the risk for intracranial hemorrhage and bleeding organs increases for what population?

Answer 13

Elderly

Question 14

When drug abuse is added to a case, why is that viewed as problematic in court?

Answer 14

Adds ambiguity

Question 15

GSW

Answer 15

Gunshot Wound

Question 16

What are GSWs characterized by?

Answer 16

Marginal Abrasion

Question 17

Types of Handguns?

Answer 17

Revolver

Semiautomatic

Question 18

Handguns are ____ velocity weapons

Answer 18

LOW

Question 19

What type of bullets do handguns use?

Answer 19

Small caliber bullets such as hollow point round

Question 20

Describe what happens when small caliber bullets used by handguns meet tissue

Answer 20

Slow with tumbling

= Deformed bullet remains in the individual causes more tissue damage!

Question 21

Why do handguns cause lots of tissue damage?

Answer 21

Due to the deformed bullets remaining inside the individual

Question 22

Many handguns and long guns have rifling. What is that?

Answer 22

Grooves cut into barrel of gun that add accuracy and impart grooves on bullets

Question 23

What does rifling allow for?

Answer 23

To match the bullet to the gun

Question 24

What is a type of gun that shoots handgun ammunition?

Answer 24

Machine pistols (uzi-type)

Question 25

Civilian versions of machine pistols are?

Answer 25

Semiautomatic

Question 26

Police versions of machine pistols are?

Answer 26

Automatic

Question 27

Types of Long guns?

Answer 27

Rifles - Magazines - Bolt action

Question 28

Long guns (rifles) are ____ velocity weapons

Answer 28

HIGH

Question 29

Long guns shoot what type of bullets?

Answer 29

Fully jacketed

Question 30

With long guns, the exit site is what compared to handguns?

Answer 30

Larger and more stellate

Question 31

Types of Shotguns?

Answer 31

Smoothbore

Question 32

What are shotguns loaded with?

Answer 32

Shells that contain pellets of varying size (gauge)

Question 33

What controls the spray of pellets from a shotgun?

Answer 33

Choke structure

Question 34

Lesser choke on a shotgun results in?

Answer 34

GREATER dispersion of shot mass

Question 35

Too short of a choke on a shotgun is?

Answer 35

Illegal riot gun | - due to wide dispersion at a short range

Question 36

What else can be loaded into shotguns that cause devastating short range injuries?

Answer 36

Slugs

Question 37

Range refers to?

Answer 37

Distance from end of gun barrel to entry wound on individual

Question 38

What is seen with a contact or close range GSW?

Answer 38

- Soot and gunpowder in depths of wound | - Muzzle or sight burn stigmata

Question 39

What is seen with an intermediate range GSW?

Answer 39

Dirt, soot, gunpowder embed in the skin

Question 40

"powder tattooing or stippling"

Answer 40

Dirt, soot, gunpowder embedded in the skin with intermediate range GSWs

Question 41

What is seen with a distant range GSW?

Answer 41

NO soot, dirt or particles at wound site!!

Question 42

Describe the layers of the adult skull affected by a GSW

Answer 42

Outer table Diploe (spongy bone/cancellous bone) Inner table

Question 43

Entry site for a bullet to the head is characterized by?

Answer 43

Outer table circumscribed | Inner table beveled

Question 44

Exit site for a bullet to the head is characterized by?

Answer 44

Inner table circumscribed | Outer table beveled

Question 45

As a projectile encounters tissue is slows down. What does this cause?

Answer 45

Mass transfers energy to substrate

Question 46

If the tissue is beveled, it received?

Answer 46

More energy transfer

Question 47

What allows medical examiners to discern between the entry and exits GSWs to the head?

Answer 47

Circumscription and beveling