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Category Archives: Forensic
Gunshot Injuries
Gunshot and Gunfire injuries (bullet)
Differences between entrance and exit wounds
Entrance wounds
o May have soot, gunpowder stippling surrounding wound
o May have muzzle imprint (contact wound)
o Usually demonstrate abraded edges
o May demonstrate laceration of skin, tissues (from effects of gases in a contact wound)
Exit wounds
o Lack of soot, gunpowder stippling
o Usually lack of abraded edges
o Usually larger than entrance wounds
o May have multiple exit wounds if initial projectile fragmented on entering the body
Appearance of skull fractures for exit and entrance bullet injuries
Entrance injuries
o Entrance wound may be stellate due to effects of gases (if contact wound)
o Entrance injury may demonstrate soot, gunpowder stippling
o Radiating fracture lines may be seen
o Bevelling or coning of the bone at the surface is seen occurring in the direction away from the weapon on the inner table
Exit injuries
o Bevelling of the skull wound is seen in the direction away from the entrance wound
o No soot, stippling is seen around wound
o Any fracture lines occur stop when they reach fractures produced on entry of the bullet
Determination of the distance of the shot
• Contact wounds may demonstrate muzzle imprints, and will show soot on the skin as well as laceration of the skin from effects of gases
• Intermediate range shots will lack muzzle imprints but will show a zone of gunpowder stippling (the diameter of the zone depends on the firearm and the target to weapon distance)
• Distant range wounds lack stippling and demonstrate wounds roughly the caliber of the projectile fired
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Tagged , Gun injuries, Gun wound, Gunfire injuries, Gunfire wound, Gunshot injuries, Gunshot wound
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Forensic Autopsy
The Forensic Autopsy
Important information required prior to starting a forensic autopsy
• Identification of the body
• Medical history, drug history
• Circumstances surrounding death
• Evidence found on examination of scene (eg. were “works” found at scene, open pill bottles, etc.)
Types of toxicologic specimens to be taken and the collection methods
• Blood
• Vitreous fluid
• Urine
• Bile
• Stomach contents
• Hair
• Liver
• Kidney
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Tagged , Autopsy, Forensic, Forensic autopsy, Forensic toxicology, Toxicology
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Asphyxia
Asphyxia
Causes and examples of asphyxia
• Compression of neck with or without airway obstruction
o Hanging
o Strangulation
• Obstruction of airway
o Smothering
o Aspiration of foreign material
o Postural asphyxia
o Swelling of mucosal membranes (eg. inhalation of superheated gas, anaphylaxis)
• Compression of chest
o Being crushed in a collapsed building
o “Hog-tying” prisoners
• Exclusion of oxygen (via replacement with another gas or a chemical that impedes the use of oxygen)
o Carbon dioxide poisoning
o Carbon monoxide poisoning
o Cyanide poisoning
Findings in hanging versus ligature
• Hanging
o Marks of noose (abrasions on neck) travel upwards to knot behind neck (towards ears)
o Abrasions found above level of thyroid cartilage
o Thyroid and hyoid bones usually intact
• Ligature
o Marks of ligature (abrasions on neck) are horizontal
o Abrasions found below level of thyroid cartilage
o Thyroid and hyoid bones often fractured
Situations when you suspect carbon dioxide (not CO) suffocation
• Death of workers working in a manhole and or well without oxygen masks
• Glue-sniffing deaths; deaths in which persons place plastic bags over their heads and tie the ends
• Deaths of children in closed refrigerators
Manner of death in autoerotic asphyxiation
• Accidental
Appearance of a ligature mark in a hanging versus strangulation by ligature
Hanging
o Ligature mark usually passes upward to knot at back of neck
o Ligature mark above thyroid cartilage
Ligature
o Mark usually horizontal
o Mark usually at level of thyroid cartilage
Autoerotic asphyxia
• Self-imposed asphyxial death caused by compression of neck in which transitory self-induced cerebral anoxia enhances sexual arousal produced by masturbation
• Victim is usually male, found in private area, nude or partially nude
• May be found with female undergarments, pornographic material in vicinity
• Towel or some article of clothing often found between noose and neck in order to prevent rope marks/burns on skin
• Usually some self-rescue device present so individual can relieve pressure before losing consciousness
• Death usually results because rescue device fails, because of a flaw in design and or construction, or individual loses control
Manner of death in manual strangulation
• Homicide
Probable manner of death in autoerotic asphyxia
• Accidental
Posted in Forensic
Tagged , Asphyxia, Asphyxiation, Autoerotic asphyxiation, Carbon dioxide, Hanging, Ligature
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Wounds
Wounds
Features of different wounds
1. Stab wound produced by sharp-edged weapon whereby the depth of the wound is greater in dimension than the length of the wound
2. Incised wounds are also produced by sharp-edged weapons, however the length of the wound is greater in dimension than its depth (often produced by a cutting action)
Locations for defense wounds
1. Forearms
2. Hands
3. Lower legs (if the lower body is attacked, eg. sexual attacks)
Difference between lacerations and incisions
1. Lacerations are tears of the skin and subcutaneous tissue produced by blunt-force trauma with abraded edges and bridging nerves, vessels, connective tissue
2. Incisions are “cuts” of the skin and subcutaneous tissue produced by a sharp-edged weapon, often in the absence of abraded edges and lack of “bridging” nerves, vessels, or connective tissue, since the weapon slices these in producing the wound
Posted in Forensic
Tagged , Defense wounds, Incised wounds, Incision, Laceration, Stab wounds
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