Penetrating Trauma

Question 1

Ballistics

Answer 1

The study of projectile motion and its interactions with the gun, the air, and the object it contacts

Question 2

Trajectory

Answer 2

The path a projectile follows

Question 3

Drag

Answer 3

The forces acting on a projectile in motion to slow its progress

Question 4

Cavitation

Answer 4

The outward motion of tissue due to a projectile’s passage, resulting in a temporary cavity and vacuum

Question 5

Profile

Answer 5

The cross section of a bullet along its direction of travel; the energy- exchange of the bullet when it contacts a target

Question 6

Caliber

Answer 6

The diameter of a bullet expressed in hundredths of an inch; the inside diameter of the barrel of a handgun, or rifle

Question 7

Yaw

Answer 7

Swing or wobble around the axis of a projectiles travel

Question 8

Zone of injury

Answer 8

In association with projectile wounds, the maximum area of injured tissue, usually extending beyond the permanent cavity formed by the projectile

Question 9

Resiliency

Answer 9

Elasticity; the ability to spring back from a force or impact to resume the original condition

Question 10

Pericardial tamponade

Answer 10

A restriction to cardiac filing caused by blood (or other fluid) within the pericardial sac

Question 11

Body regions deserving special attention with penetrating trauma

Answer 11

Extremities
Abdomen
Thorax
Neck
Head

Question 12

Projectile

Answer 12

An object hurled or projected by the exertion of force

Question 13

Low velocity penetrating trauma generally inflicted by mechanism such as

Answer 13

Blades and pointed objects

Question 14

Medium velocity penetrating trauma caused by

Answer 14

Handgun bullets

Question 15

High velocity trauma is caused by

Answer 15

Rifle bullets

Question 16

Kinetic energy of object equal

Answer 16

Mass x Square of velocity divided by 2

Question 17

Relationship of mass to energy is

Answer 17

Direct

Question 18

Relationship of velocity to energy is

Answer 18

Squared

Question 19

Law of conservation of energy

Answer 19

Energy neither created nor destroyed; only changed from one form to another

Question 20

Stability

Answer 20

Location of bullets center mass affects its stability during flight and when it impacts semisolid object, such as human tissue

Question 21

Handgun

Answer 21

Short barrled , medium velocity weapon
Somewhat limited accuracy
Most effective at close range
Potential for causing damage is limited

Question 22

Hunting rifle

Answer 22

High speed and energy transfer greater damaging energy to target.
Hunting damaging especially lethal ; often designed to expand dramatically on impact

Question 23

Assault rifles

Answer 23

Differ from hunting rifle
Larger magazine capacity
Automatic and semiautomatic modes
M16, AK47, AR15
Injuries similar to hunting rifle
Multiple Casualties and wounds expected

Question 24

Forces causing trauma related to force formula

Answer 24

Force = mass x acceleration (or deceleration)

Question 25

Extensive wounds

Answer 25

Injuries extend beyond projectiles immediate track

Question 26

Direct injury

Answer 26

Damage as penetrating object strikes tissue, contuses and tears tissue, pushes it out of the way

Question 27

Pressure wave

Answer 27

High-velocity, high energy projectile strikes human tissue

Question 28

Temporary cavity

Answer 28

Space created behind high energy bullet as tissue moves rapidly away from bullets path.

Question 29

Permanent cavity

Answer 29

Tissue may not return to normal orientation; disrupted tissues, air, blood, fluids, debris

Question 30

Heat injury

Answer 30

Minimal and associated with final location of bullet

Question 31

Low velocity wounds

Answer 31

Objects slow speed limits kinetic energy exchange rate as it enters a victims body.

Question 32

Entrance wound

Answer 32

Produces much larger and more disrupted entry wound than bullet caliber alone would suggest

Question 33

Exit wound

Answer 33

Physical damage from passage of bullet itself and resulting cavitation all wave

May have “blown-out” appearance