Penetrating Trauma Flashcards
Ballistics
The study of projectile motion and its interactions with the gun, the air, and the object it contacts
Trajectory
The path a projectile follows
Drag
The forces acting on a projectile in motion to slow its progress
Cavitation
The outward motion of tissue due to a projectile’s passage, resulting in a temporary cavity and vacuum
Profile
The cross section of a bullet along its direction of travel; the energy- exchange of the bullet when it contacts a target
Caliber
The diameter of a bullet expressed in hundredths of an inch; the inside diameter of the barrel of a handgun, or rifle
Yaw
Swing or wobble around the axis of a projectiles travel
Zone of injury
In association with projectile wounds, the maximum area of injured tissue, usually extending beyond the permanent cavity formed by the projectile
Resiliency
Elasticity; the ability to spring back from a force or impact to resume the original condition
Pericardial tamponade
A restriction to cardiac filing caused by blood (or other fluid) within the pericardial sac
Body regions deserving special attention with penetrating trauma
Extremities Abdomen Thorax Neck Head
Projectile
An object hurled or projected by the exertion of force
Low velocity penetrating trauma generally inflicted by mechanism such as
Blades and pointed objects
Medium velocity penetrating trauma caused by
Handgun bullets
High velocity trauma is caused by
Rifle bullets
Kinetic energy of object equal
Mass x Square of velocity divided by 2
Relationship of mass to energy is
Direct
Relationship of velocity to energy is
Squared
Law of conservation of energy
Energy neither created nor destroyed; only changed from one form to another
Stability
Location of bullets center mass affects its stability during flight and when it impacts semisolid object, such as human tissue
Handgun
Short barrled , medium velocity weapon
Somewhat limited accuracy
Most effective at close range
Potential for causing damage is limited
Hunting rifle
High speed and energy transfer greater damaging energy to target.
Hunting damaging especially lethal ; often designed to expand dramatically on impact
Assault rifles
Differ from hunting rifle Larger magazine capacity Automatic and semiautomatic modes M16, AK47, AR15 Injuries similar to hunting rifle Multiple Casualties and wounds expected
Forces causing trauma related to force formula
Force = mass x acceleration (or deceleration)
