Forensic Aspects of Trauma Flashcards
What is a contusion?
“Bruise”
Bleeding into intact skin by damaged blood vessels, normally from blunt force trauma
Recent bruising is red/purple
Old is green/yellow - due to haemoglobin breakdown
What is significant about the pattern of bruising?
Can show the type of trauma - e.g. if with a weapon?
Blood leaks into the dermis and gets trapped, and often does so in the shape of the blunt force object
What is an abrasion?
Superficial injury to the skin - area that is scraped away
What can cause an abrasion
Tangential movement - friction - of a rough surface which is in contact with the skin
May be caused by direct compressive injury to the superficial epidermis in some instances
What is a laceration?
Defects caused by the application of a blunt force object to the skin
Often accompanied by bruising
Typically abraded
Where do lacerations most commonly occur?
Overlying bony promineces where skin is compressed violently between impact object and bone, causing it to split or tear e.g. eyebrows, head, chin
What is an incision?
Surgical cutting of soft tissue, such as skin or muscle, with a knife or scalpel
