| Gunshot wounds are a common finding in forensic necropsy cases. Knowledge of firearms, ammunition, ballistics, and the basic physics involved in gunshot wounding is necessary for accurate evaluation and description of lesions. First, let us start by looking at the diagram of a bullet wound to better understand the effects on bone and soft tissue. |
| Bullet Wound Basics |
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| This diagram depicts the effects of a bullet following collision with a body. The x-axis represents depth of penetration. The wound entrance is on the left as represented by the drawing of a bullet. The outer region represents the temporary wound cavity caused by bellowing outward of soft tissue in response to impact of the bullet. This phenomena occurs at the instant of impact as a shock wave disseminates through the body. The inner region is the permanent wound cavity left by tissue destruction. The amount of damage will depend a number of factors, including projectile mass, projectile speed, and ability of the affected tissues to expand. |
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Here is the permanent wound cavity left by a 0.22 caliber bullet in the quadriceps muscle of a coyote. |
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| Permanent wound cavities are relatively larger in tissues that are less expansile, such as bone, muscle bundles, and encapsulated organs. |
| Before we proceed to different types of wounds and techniques, let us discuss the types and make-up of different ammunition and firearms. |
| Guns & Ammo >> |
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Veterinary Forensic Pathology | Gunshot Wounds