Page  1 FIREARM INJURIES Robert Bojčić Mentor: A. Žmegač Horvat

Definition  Firearm - instrument which discharges a missile by expnsive force of gases produced by burning of an explosive substance  Forensic ballistics Page  2

2 basic types  Shotguns - barrel has a smooth internal surface  Rifled weapons – barrel is a spiral groove Page  3

Mechanics of bullet wound production  Bullet velocity (kinetic energy)  Tissue density – greater density, higher amount of energy discharged Page  4

 Shotgun vs rifle Page  5

Distance Page  6

Entrance and exit wounds Page  7

Shotgun and rifle wounds Page  8

Diference between entrance and exit wound Page  9

Suicide or murder?  Suicide -wound from short distance -sites of election: mouth, front of the neck, forehead, frond of the chest -almost never: eye, back -weapon present  Murder -multiple firearm wounds Page  10