Forensic Ballistics Quiz

What is the characteristic of a wound of entrance in a gunshot wound caused by pressed and firm contact fire?

What causes the edges of a gunshot wound of entrance to be everted?

What causes the areas in the entrance of a gunshot wound to be blackened by burns, tattooing, or smudging?

What causes singeing of hair in a gunshot wound caused by pressed and firm contact fire?

What is the characteristic of a muzzle imprint in a contact gunshot wound?

What causes the blood and tissue in a contact gunshot wound to become pink?

What is the characteristic of a wound of entrance in a contact gunshot wound caused by hard contact?

What is the characteristic of soot deposition in a contact gunshot wound caused by loose contact?

What is the difference between a contact gunshot wound caused by hard contact and loose contact?

What is the reason why soot cannot be removed completely by washing or vigorous scrubbing in a contact gunshot wound caused by hard contact?

Characteristics of Gunshot Wounds

Wounds of Entrance

A wound of entrance caused by pressed and firm contact fire has a characteristic circular or oval shape with a narrow, regular margin.
The edges of a gunshot wound of entrance are everted due to the expansion of gases within the wound, causing the skin to stretch and tear outward.

Burn and Tattooing Effects

The areas around the entrance of a gunshot wound are blackened by burns, tattooing, or smudging due to the deposition of soot and powder particles.
Singeing of hair in a gunshot wound caused by pressed and firm contact fire occurs because the muzzle blast ignites the hair.

Muzzle Imprint and Blood Characteristics

A muzzle imprint in a contact gunshot wound appears as a circular or oval bruise or abrasion around the wound, caused by the forceful contact of the muzzle against the skin.
Blood and tissue in a contact gunshot wound become pink due to the presence of carbon monoxide, which combines with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin.

Contact Gunshot Wounds

A wound of entrance in a contact gunshot wound caused by hard contact has a characteristic star-shaped or cruciform tear, with a narrow, regular margin and a symmetrical pattern of soot deposition.
Soot deposition in a contact gunshot wound caused by loose contact is more irregular and diffuse, with a wider, more irregular margin.

Hard Contact vs. Loose Contact

The main difference between a contact gunshot wound caused by hard contact and loose contact is the character of the wound margin and the pattern of soot deposition, with hard contact producing a more regular and symmetrical pattern, and loose contact producing a more irregular and diffuse pattern.

Soot Removal

Soot cannot be completely removed by washing or vigorous scrubbing in a contact gunshot wound caused by hard contact because it is deposited deeply into the skin and tissue.

Test your knowledge on Gunshot Wounds with a focus on distance, pressed and firm contact fire, and specific body parts where bone is superficial. Learn about the characteristics of wounds of entrance, including size, shape, and coloration, as well as the effects of muzzle imprint. This quiz will challenge your understanding of forensic pathology and ballistics.