Firearm Injuries and Blast Injuries MCQs

Bullet collected at surgery or autopsy, from the body of a victim alive or dead is called a crime bullet. In other words, crime bullet is the one which is recovered from the body of a victim. Test bullet is a bullet that is fired from a firearm suspected of being involved in a crime. The test firing is into a gunny bag fixed into a deal wood box. The bullet is then collected for comparison with crime bullet under a comparison microscope, for identifying the crime weapon. The primary markings(Macroscopic) and secondary markings(microscopic) characteristics on the crime bullet are compared with those present over test bullet. This can only be done in relation to rifled weapons. Exhibit bullet is a crime/test bullet, which is presented in the court as evidence. Reference: Textbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, 2nd edition, Page No. 296.

Beating on the sole of the feet is known as Falanga or Falaka or Bastinado. Dry submarine means head and face are covered with a plastic bag. In Wet submarine (Latina), head is submerged in polluted water. Inserting heated metal skewer into the anus is known as Black slave. Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, KS Narayan Reddy, 35th edition, Page No. 229

The cervical spine is the most commonly injured part of the spinal cord. The cervical spine accounts for 60 per cent of the adult spine injuries and the most common part of the spine to be injured is the region of the upper cervical vertebrae (C1–C4), and injury to the C1/C2 complex accounts for 19–25 per cent of the cervical spine injuries. These are followed by injuries to the thoracolumbar (20 per cent), lumbar (10 per cent), thoracic (8 per cent), and sacral level (2 per cent). Reference: Knight's Forensic Pathology, 4 th Edition, Page No. 210

Whiplash injury is an acceleration-deceleration mechanism of energy transfer to the neck that may result in bony and soft tissue injuries. Commonly seen in road traffic fatalities , which are due to the hyperextension of the neck Out of the hyperextension and hyperflexion injuries, hyperextension is more dangerous because weak anterior longitudinal ligament is incapable of maintaining the integrity of the cervical spine during hyperextension whereas during flexion, the strong musculature of the posterior part of neck is capable of protecting the spine. Reference: Textbook of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Principles 5th Edition, Krihan Vij, Page No. 232

Ans. Firearm entry wound Smudge ring/Lead ring/Grease collar/Dirt collar This is due to the wipe of the soft metal of the bullet, or dirt present on it, or grease carried from the barrel & is deposited round the entrance wound internal to the abraded collar The smudge ring may therefore be absent when the jacketed bullet has passed through clothing The smudging in case of lead shot or unjacketed bullets can be detected microchemically on the target (skin/cloth) The forensic value of bullet wipe is to establish a hole as a bullet hole, to determine the entry site, & on occasion the sequence of shots or bullet's passage through multiple objects.

In underwater blasts , the intestines suffer the most damage. A blast causes the most damage at an interface between tissues in contact with the atmosphere, which is why the lung usually suffers the most severe damage. However, the most commonly affected structure in air blasts is the tympanic membrane. The gastrointestinal system suffers from the effect of a blast because, like the lung, it contains air and gases and is thus not a uniform medium for transit of the shock wave. Victims of explosions in water suffer a reverse order of gastrointestinal to lung damage. Reference: Knight's Forensic Pathology, 4th edition, Page No. 269; The Essentials of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, KS Narayan Reddy, 35th edition, Page No. 183.