Wounding

Question 1

what is a temporary cavity?

Answer 1

a cavity created by a bullet travelling away from the contact surface. this cavity is temporary due to the elastic energy and vacuum created by the high velocity bullet.

Question 2

what are cavitation bubbles?

Answer 2

bubbles that occcur on material (bullets) that move through fluid at a high velocity. if these bubbles burst smooth surfaces may suffer erosion due to energy release.

Question 3

what causes bullets to cause wounds?

Answer 3

the energy behind the bullet, the design and the area of the body it is impacting.

Question 4

at what range are most civillian shootings made at?

Answer 4

at close to medium range, 0 to 25m, usually with a handgun

Question 5

what evidence can be retrieved from close range wounds?

Answer 5

tissue damage, propellant deposits and burn patterns.

Question 6

how can a wound be identified as a contact wound?

Answer 6

contact mark or impring of the muzzle ofthe gun.

even if the contact is light it is possible for the impact of the muzze to cause cell damage.

Question 7

what is tattooing?

Answer 7

tattooing is the term given to the marks and burns created around bullet wounds caused by hot gunshot residues.

occurs at close ranges.

Question 8

what is the alternative term for tattooing?

Answer 8

stippling

Question 9

what is the common mistake made when identifying tattooing?

Answer 9

it is often mistaken for a shotgun wound, due to the many pellets released from shotgun rounds, however if this were the case there would be no significantly larger bullet wound in the center.

Question 10

what is bevelling?

Answer 10

Cone shaped bone erosion in the direction of the bullet flow.