Forensic Wounding Patterns

This is what type of wound? (Scientific term)

Contusions are a result of...

• Lacerations

• Blunt force trauma

• Scratches

• Incisions

The severity of an injury is determined by... (select all that apply)

• The amount of the impact force

• Surface area that gets hit

• The density of the area impacted

• How fast the object makes impact

A "train track-like" contusion is a result of...

• Sharp force trauma via a rod-like instrument

• Sharp force trauma via a cutting instrument

• Blunt force trauma via a rod-like instrument

• Blunt force trauma via a flat instrument

What causes a skull fracture?

• When compression forces crush long bones

• When compression forces cause the brain to swell

• When compression forces limit a person's head movement

• When compression forces exceed the elasticity of the cranial bone

Match the following skull fracture characteristics with the injured area

• Ring fractures at the base of the skull

• Blow to temporal bone

• Stepped depression fractures

• Vertebral Column

• Linear fractures that extend down the forehead and into the sinuses

• Frontal Blow

• Fractures that run downward

• Blow to top of head

What is a Intracraneal hemotoma?

• When a blood vessel is broken in the brain - causing bleeding.

• When bruising occurs in the brain.

• When an object lacerates the dermis of the forehead.

• When a fracture radiates downwards from the temporal bone.

A suspect is alleged to have hit a victim using a 2x4" wood board. The victim is bleeding and is suffering from this type of wounding pattern:

• Blunt force trauma

• Dermal tag

• Contusion

• Laceration

A victim has a 2" wide wound that is bleeding and it has smooth edges. The weapon that was likely used is:

• A baseball bat

• A knife

• A firearm

• A hammer

The order in which multiple skull fractures occurred can be determined based on where the fractures meet.

• True

• False