Mechanisms Of Injury

Question 1

The primary mechanisms of injury are:

Answer 1

• Asphyxia (lack of oxygen)
• Sharp force trauma (cutting of tissue)
• Blunt force trauma (crushing and tearing of tissue)
• Gunshot trauma (projectile from firearm)

Question 2

The forms of asphyxia trauma are:

Answer 2

• Strangulation, smothering, choking, drowning, positional or
  mechanical asphyxia and chemical asphyxia.

Question 3

In_______, the mechanism of death is hypoxia of the brain.

Answer 3

• Strangulation

Question 4

Common patterns of injuries related to manual strangulation include:

Answer 4

• Congestion of facial features
• Abrasions and contusions of the neck & surrounding skin
• Hemorrhage of muscles in the neck
• Breakage of hyoid bone

Question 5

________injuries are classified as penetrating, perforating, grazing and tangential wounds.

Answer 5

• Gunshot

Question 6

A penetrating gunshot wound is one that:

Answer 6

• Projectile or fragment enters the body and does not exit

Question 7

A perforating gunshot wound is one that:

Answer 7

• Projectile or fragment enters and exits the body

Question 8

A grazing gunshot wound is one that:

Answer 8

• Projectile or fragment strikes parallel to the surface of the skin,
  producing an abraded injury without entering the skin

Question 9

A tangential gunshot wound is one that:

Answer 9

• Projectile or fragment skims across the surface of the victim, producing a series of shallow wounds that extend into the subcutaneous tissues.

Question 10

A gunshot contact wound is when:

Answer 10

• The muzzle of a firearm is pressed against the victim’s body.

Question 11

In contact gunshot wounds, gases discharge during the explosion of the ammunition are forced into the opening of the body created by the projectile. The gases create considerable force as they escape and may cause significant______patterns when pressed against hard bone as with the head.

Answer 11

• Stellate

Question 12

In contact gunshot wounds, ____and_____fragments are often found within the area of the wound.

Answer 12

• Soot, powder residue and metallic (fragments)

Question 13

In contact gunshot wounds, a common feature is an_______of the firearm’s muzzle on the victim’s skin.

Answer 13

• Impression/abrasion

Question 14

Typical entry gunshot wounds will appear _____with an abrasion ring surrounding the defect.

Answer 14

• circular to elliptical

Question 15

In _______gunshot wounds, the muzzle of the firearm is held close enough for heat effects to occur on the skin. This may manifest itself with apparent blackened, seared skin surrounding the wound. ______patterns or a powder pattern on overlying clothing maybe present.

Answer 15

• Close contact; stippling

Question 16

In close contact gunshot wounds, the stippling pattern produced is typically________and this shape may help illustrate the general orientation of the muzzle to the surface where stippling occurs.

Answer 16

• Circular to elliptical

Question 17

In close contact gunshot wounds, depending on the ammunition and firearm used, stippling can be present when the muzzle to target distance is as much as_____.

Answer 17

• 3 feet

Question 18

In _______gunshot wounds, the muzzle of the weapon is held far enough away from the body that heat and soot effects are eliminated but close enough for powder particles to be projected into the skin producing stippling.

Answer 18

• Intermediate

Question 19

In _______ gunshot wounds, there is no heat, soot or stippling. In the past this type of wound was generally referred to as distant, indicating the firearm was far enough from the victim to eliminate the heat and powder effects.

Answer 19

• Indeterminate or distant

Question 20

______gunshot wounds tend to be asymmetrical and irregular.

Answer 20

• Exit