Forensic Science: Wounds and Injuries Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary definition of wounds and injuries?

Tissue repair caused by environmental factors

Excessive growth of tissue due to inflammation

Natural aging of cells and tissues

Disruption of the normal structure of tissues caused by the application of force (correct)

Which factor is NOT assessed regarding the type of weapon involved in sharp force trauma?

Sharpness of the weapon's edge

Shape of the weapon's blade or edge

Length of the weapon's handle (correct)

Type of material used in the weapon

What is a significant purpose of accurate documentation in wounds and injuries?

To determine the circumstances of injury such as accident, suicide, or homicide (correct)

To enhance the aesthetic appeal of medical reports

To provide a basis for comparisons with historical data

To simplify the procedure of medicolegal investigations

Which of the following types of injuries is characterized by a disruption in the skin caused by cutting or slicing?

Stab wound Signup and view all the answers

In the context of recording stab wounds, what should be measured after the wound edges are drawn together?

Length and width of the wound Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of exit wounds compared to entry wounds?

May have irregular shapes with everted edges Signup and view all the answers

What impact do high velocity projectiles have on tissues?

Create temporary cavitation and can fracture bones Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT typically a cause of death from injuries sustained in incidents?

Minor abrasions Signup and view all the answers

Shotgun pellets can be stopped by which of the following?

Bone Signup and view all the answers

Which type of injuries can be sustained from vehicle collisions?

Injuries from airbags and seatbelts Signup and view all the answers

What primarily causes bruises to form under the skin?

Rupture of capillaries and venules Signup and view all the answers

How can tramline bruises be characterized?

Two parallel linear bruises with a paler area in between Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between a bruise and an abrasion?

Abrasions involve damage to the epidermis, whereas bruises do not. Signup and view all the answers

What influences the extent of bruising a person may experience?

Location of the injury and individual traits Signup and view all the answers

What is an abrasion also referred to as?

Grazes or scratches Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a wider abrasion that covers a large area of skin?

Friction burn Signup and view all the answers

What type of forces typically create abrasions?

Direct impact or glancing impact across skin Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is NOT associated with abrasions?

They penetrate deeply into the skin layers. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes the injuries associated with suicide attempts from other self-inflicted injuries?

They often show multiple, shallow, and parallel wounds. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is most likely to influence the age of a bruise?

The color changes observed in the bruise. Signup and view all the answers

What indicates that bruises may be caused at different times and suggest signs of chronic abuse?

Markedly different colored bruises. Signup and view all the answers

In what manner are deliberate self-inflicted injuries commonly inflicted?

They occur haphazardly and are typically superficial. Signup and view all the answers

How long might a healthy person take for bruises to transition from purple to yellow?

From 72 hours to 1 week. Signup and view all the answers

What role does acceleration/deceleration play in vehicular injuries?

Tissue injury results from a change in the rate of movement. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of impact is most prevalent in vehicular crashes?

Frontal impact Signup and view all the answers

What injuries can an unrestrained driver sustain in a frontal impact?

Severe head and neck injuries Signup and view all the answers

What is the legal limit for blood alcohol concentration for experienced drivers in Ireland?

50 mg/100 ml Signup and view all the answers

How much does the use of seatbelts reduce the risk of fatal injury for drivers?

By 40 – 50% Signup and view all the answers

What type of injuries can occur from glass during a vehicular collision?

Glass injuries leading to eye damage Signup and view all the answers

Which drug has the lowest legal threshold for blood concentration in Ireland?

Cannabis (THC) Signup and view all the answers

What is a common injury pattern for rear-seat passengers in an accident?

Increased head injuries due to projections Signup and view all the answers

What internal injury can result from a severe car accident?

Ruptured spleen Signup and view all the answers

What factor significantly influences the injuries sustained in an accident?

The position of the occupant in relation to the impact Signup and view all the answers

How does speed affect injury severity in vehicle collisions?

Increased speed is associated with greater injury severity. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant conclusion about drug driving based on the legal limits outlined?

Different illegal drugs have varying legal limits. Signup and view all the answers

Which injury is more likely to occur in rollover accidents?

Multiple injuries across all occupants Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about stab wounds is true?

Stab wounds are typically deeper than incised wounds. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes incised wounds from stab wounds?

Incised wounds have a length greater than depth. Signup and view all the answers

Which factors influence the size and shape of a stab wound?

The configuration and movement of the object. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of incised wounds?

Deep tissues are cleanly cut. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of a fabricated wound?

A wound created for self-harm. Signup and view all the answers

What kind of injuries often show notching or changes in direction?

Stab wounds. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is NOT true about incised wounds?

They can heal without significant scarring. Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates weals from other types of injuries?

They involve reddening and swelling of normal tissue. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Wounds & Injuries

Wounds & injuries are disruptions to normal tissue structure caused by force.
Distinguishing wound types is crucial for assessment.
Learning outcomes include describing different injury types and why they're distinguished, factors assessed in sharp force trauma, features of gunshot wounds, and vehicular impact injuries.
Accurate documentation is vital in forensic/non-forensic autopsies, identifying the weapon used (e.g., blunt or sharp object), assessing injury patterns for accident/suicide/homicide, and accurate medicolegal reporting.
Injuries must be described with specific details: wound type (bruise, abrasion, laceration), dimensions (length, width, depth), and photographs with a scale.
Stab wounds require measurements of the wound's appearance, with edges drawn together later.
Position of the wound relative to anatomical landmarks is important (e.g., midline, clavicle, ear lobe).
Height of wound from ground level is crucial for documentation.
Different injury types exist: Blunt force trauma, Sharp force trauma, and Mixed injuries (combinations).
Blunt force trauma includes bruises, abrasions, and lacerations.
Sharp force trauma includes stab wounds and incised wounds.

Types of Injuries

Blunt force trauma: Impacts resulting in tissue damage without breaking the skin.
Abrasions: Scrapes or grazes of the skin.
Bruises: Discoloration due to blood vessels.
Lacerations: Tears in the skin.
Sharp force trauma: Incised wounds: Cuts/tears. Stab wounds: Penetration.
Wound descriptions should consider edges (clean cut versus ragged), the presence of embedded foreign materials like dirt, and direction of the force.

Medical Evaluation of Bruises

Evaluation focuses on location, number, distribution, color, size, shape, and patterns (grip, finger marks)

Tramline Bruise

Two parallel linear bruises separated by paler, undamaged skin.
Occurs when skin is struck by a rod-shaped object, with blood leaking into surrounding tissues due to stretched and torn blood vessels.

Abrasions

Known as scratches or grazes.
Direct or glancing impact, causing epidermal loss only.
Often broader (“brush abrasion”) e.g., from a fall, motorcyclist skid.
Retains surface characteristics from the object that caused it.
Direction of force can be inferred.

Forensic Significance of Abrasions

Abrasions retain surface characteristics of the impacting object (e.g., car bumper).
Force direction can be determined from the torn epidermis.
Heaped-up strands and ragged edges towards the force direction.
Embedded materials are indicators.

Lacerations

Cuts, tears, or splits in skin and underlying tissues.
Often associated with blunt force trauma.
Common in areas with underlying bony support.
Characterized by ragged edges, crushing, and bruising at the margins.
Hairs in the tissues are a marker.
Tissue strands crossing through deep wounds, including nerves, fibrous bands, and vessels.
Can be mistaken for incised wounds when caused by a regular shaped object (e.g.., scalp lacerations).

Sharp Force Trauma

Caused by sharp instruments, producing neat cuts and tears.
Incised wounds are usually longer than deep; wound margins are uninjured.
Stab wounds are deeper than they are wide; characterized by entry and exit wounds.

Stab Wounds

Depth is significantly greater than the length.
Often due to knives, bayonets, swords.
External surfaces have slit-like appearances; skin contracts when object is removed.
Centre of the wound widens.
Size & shape depend on object configuration and movement and direction of thrust.
Edges are clean or slightly pointed and may have split- or fish-tail defects.
Abrasions may or may not be present.
Changes in notching suggest a shift in the knife's direction during the attack.

Incised Wounds

Usually due to sharp instruments
Length typically exceeds depth
Wound margins remain uninjured
Deep tissues are cleanly cut; examples include surgical incisions

Other Injuries

Weals (reddening, swelling, normal response).
Glass injuries.
Axe/chop injuries (blunt and sharp).
Thermal injuries.
Firearm injuries.
Defense injuries (forearms, hands, thighs).
Fabricated/fictitious wounds (intentional).
Self-inflicted wounds (suicide attempts and other deliberate actions).
Understanding the characteristics of self-inflicted injuries.

Age of Injuries

Assessing bruise progression, from purple to yellow over time.
Determining the appropriate time frame for injury occurrences.
Determining how scarring occurs and what methods are used for evaluation.

Death from Injuries

Haemorrhage.
Damage to vital structures.
Shock.
Infection.
Pulmonary thromboembolism.
Acute tubular necrosis.
Fat embolism.

Fat Embolism Syndrome

Occurs 12-72 hours after traumatic injury, common after pelvic and long bone fractures.
Embolism of fat from bone marrow.
Enters circulation via ruptured vascular sinusoids/venules.
Clinically diagnosed by exclusion.
Autopsy reveals fat in lung, brain, retina, and kidney.

Gunshot Injuries

Type of weapon (rifled vs smoothbore).
Distance from firing (contact vs. distance).
Direction of shot.

Shotguns

Single or double barrelled, repeating, semi-automatic types.
Average barrel length (18-36 inches), and short barrelled (saun-off) weapons (10 inches or less).
Characteristics of contact wounds (e.g., soot, powder, shot).
Distance wounds (e.g., loss of contact abrasion).

Rifled Weapons

Parallel grooves/lands inside the barrel (typically 4-7).
Left/right twist imparts gyroscopic stability.
Leaves marks on the bullet surface (rifling).

Rifle Weapon Injuries

Features of entry wounds (neat hole, less than bullet diameter, soiling by bullet grease, abrasion collar, inverted edges),
Secondary projectiles/fragmented projectiles/clothing.
Contact wounds.
Distance wounds (e.g., absence of bullet grease, soiling, discoloration).

Exit Wounds

Can be more irregular than entry wounds.
Usually larger than entry wounds with inverted edges.

Internal Injuries

Tissue damage from projectile energy and speed.
Shock waves that cause tissue damage from projectile impact.
Shotgun pellets and tissue/bone stopping projectile.
High velocity projectiles, crushing, and laceration of tissues.
Temporary cavitation, stretching of tissues, fractured bones.

Road Traffic Collisions

Causes (intoxication, human failings, natural disease, environmental).
Driver, passenger, pedestrian injuries.
Seatbelts and airbags (effect, law).
Pedestrian injuries (primary, secondary, tertiary contacts).

Motorcycle Deaths

Higher injury/death rate compared to car drivers.
Common head/neck injuries (skull fractures, cervical spine fractures, cortical contusions/lacerations).
Limb injuries (lacerations, friction burns, fractures).
Trunk injuries (rib fractures, visceral damage).
Tailgating accidents, brush abrasions, crush injuries.

Things to Remember

Road traffic collisions (RTCs) in Ireland are typically Coroner's PM cases.
Document and measure patterned injuries (bumper, headlights).
Overall injury pattern is valuable, especially in conjunction with forensic crash investigations.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the definitions and characteristics of wounds and injuries, especially in forensic contexts. This quiz covers various types of injuries, documentation purposes, and the assessment of weapon types. Perfect for students of forensic science and those interested in medical terminology related to trauma.