Module -3 Physical injury

Hi! Mabuhay, welcome to my video presentation about module 3

Before I will start I will be talking to you the objectives of this video. The end of this
video , the watcher will able to
1. Evaluate the nature of physical injury
2. Differentiate the vital reaction of a person.
3. evaluate the process of wound
So lets start

WOUND- is the break or solution in the continuity of the skin or tissues of the living body.
VITAL REACTION- is the sum total of all reactions of tissues or organs to physical injury or
trauma.

⮚ Rubor- redness or congestion of the area due an increasea of blood supply as a part of
the reparative mechanism.

⮚ Calor- sensation of heat or increase in temperature

⮚ Dolor- pain due to involvement of the sensory nerve,
⮚ Loss of function- due to trauma, the tissue may not function The presence of vital
function differentiates an ante-mortem from a post mortem injury. However, vital reactions are
not seen even if injury inflicted during life:

⮚ During agonal state of the living person where cells donts react to the trauma.

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⮚ Sudden death as in sudden coronary occlusion.

Classification of wounds
A. as to severity
1. Mortal Wounds or Fatal Wounds- Which when inflicted capable of causing death.

2. Non-Mortal Wounds- wound when inflicted will not endangers one’s life.
B. As to the manner of infliction
1. Hit- by the stroke of bolo, axe and other blunt instruments. 2. Thrust or Stab- by the stroke of
a knife, dagger, ice pick, bayonet and spears.

3. Sliding or Rubbing
4. Gunpowder explosion by projectile or shrapnel
5. Tearing or Stretching

C. As to the kind of instrument used.

1. Lacerated Wounds- produced by blunt instrument. e.g. lead pipe, piece of wood, stones.

2. Incised Wounds- Wound produced by Sharp edged instrument. 3. Stabbed Wound- Wound
produced by sharp edged and sharp pointed instruments. e.g. kitchen knife, balisong, dagger.

4. Punctured Wounds- Wound produced by sharp pointed instrument- e.g. ice pick, screw
driver, barbecue stick.

5. Wound produced by tearing force.

D. As to the depth of wound

1. Superficial Wound- wounds which involves the outer layer of the skin. e.g. scratch or
abrasion.

2. Deep Wounds- Wounds which involves the outer as well as the inner structure of the body.

A. Penetrating wound- wounds wherein the instrument pierces a solid organ or tissues. e.g.
stab wounds piercing the liver, spleen, kidneys.

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Criminology Department

B. Perforating Wound- wound where there is communication between the outer and inner
portions of the hallow organs.
E. As to the relation of the site of application or force and the location of injury A. Coup Injury-
injury which is found at the site of application of force Coup B. Contre Coup Injury- injury
which is found not at the site but opposite the site of application of the force.

C. Coup Contre Coup Injury- injury which is found at the site and also opposite the site of
application of the force

D. Locus Minor’s Resistencia- it is the injury which is found not at the site or opposite the site
of the application of force but in some areas offering least resistance to the force applied.

E. Extensive Injury- it is the physical injury involving greater areas beyond the site of the
application of force. E.g fall from height, vehicular accidents.

Special Types of Wound

Patterned Wounds- wounds produced by the shape of the instrument or object reflected in
the body. e.g. Imprint of the radiator on the chest, tire marks on the body.

Defense Wound- produced by persons instinctive reaction for self-protection. e.g. contusion in
the firearms produced by parring the blow, incised wounds.

LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF PHYSICAL INJURIES

1. Mutilation- the intuitional act of cutting or looping any part or parts of the living body.

2. Slight physical injury- it is the physical injury wherein the victim is incapacitated for work or
requires medical attendance for a period from one to nine days.

3. Less serious physical injury- a physical injury wherein the offended party is incapacitated for
a work or require medical attendance for 10 days or more but not more than 30 days.

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4. Serious physical injury- it is an injury wherein the victim becomes ill or incapacitated for the
performance of his usual work for more than 90 days, the injury caused deformity, loss of any
member of his body and loss the use thereof.
DEFORMATY- permanent disfigure of the body producing physical ugliness. E.g loss of an ear,
scars in the face.

INCAPACITY- the inability of the injured person to perform his work where he is habitually
engaged

F. As to the types of wound

1. Closed Wound- when there is no break in the continuity of the skin or mucous membrane.

▪ Petechiae- minute pin-point circumscribed extravasations of blood underneath the skin

or mucous membrane. e.g. subpleural petechie hemorrhage, insect bite, tardieu spot.

▪ Contusion or Bruise- wound in the skin and subcutaneous tissues discoloration of tissues
because of extravasation of blood.

▪ Hematoma- large extravasation in newly formed cavity secondary to trauma

characterized by swelling, discoloration of tissues and effusion of blood underneath the
tissues.

▪ Musculo skeletal injuries- e.g. sprain, dislocation. Strain, fracture. ▪ Internal

hemorrhage

▪ Cerebral Concussion
2. Open wound- there is breach of the continents of the skin, e.g. abrasion, incised wound,
stab wound, punctured wound, lacerated wound and shrapnel wound.

Closed Wounds
⮚ Petechiae- circumscribed extravasation of blood in the subcutaneous tissues, pinhead
size like mosquito bites

⮚ Contusion “pasa” – effusion of blood into the tissues underneath the skin on account of
the rupture of the blood vessels as a result of the application of the blunt force.
Contusion is red or purple when fresh,

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 SOUTHWAY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY
Criminology Department

after 4-5 days it becomes green and after 7-10 days it becomes yellow and gradually
disappears at 14th day.

▪ AGE OF CONTUSION
⮚ Appreciated from its color change
⮚ The size tends to become smaller from the periphery to the center and
passes through a series of color changes

as a result of the disintegration of the RBC and liberation

of hemoglobin.
⮚ The contusion is red, purple soon after its complete development.

⮚ 4 to 5 days – green
⮚ 7 to 10 days- yellow and gradually disappears on the 14th or 15th day.

⮚ The ultimate disappearance of color varies from 1 to 4 weeks depending

upon the severity and constitution of

the body.
⮚ The color changes starts at the peripheral.
⮚ Hematoma (blood cyst, Bukol)- effusion of blood in the newly formed cavity.

MUSCULO-SKELETAL INJURIES
⮚ Sprain- partial or incomplete disruption in the continuity of muscle or ligaments.

⮚ Dislocation- displacement of the articular surface of the bones. ⮚ Fracture- it is a

break or solution in the continuity of the bone tissues.

INTERNAL HEMORRHAGE- Rupture of blood vessel causing hemorrhage. May be due to the
following:

⮚ Traumatic intracranial hemorrhage

 ⮚ Rupture of the parenchymatous organs.
Cerebral Concussion- jarring or stunning of the brain follows a blow in the head.

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OPEN WOUND
⮚ Abrasion ( gasgas, scratch, graze, friction mark)- characterized by removal of the
superficial layer of the skin brought about by friction against a hard rough objects.

FORMS OF ABRASION
⮚ Linear Abrasion- there is single line which may be curve of straight ⮚ Multi-Linear
abrasion- several lines of the injury which are parallel to one another

⮚ Confluent abrasions- the lines of the injury are arranged in haphazardly manner.

⮚ Multiple abrasions- abrasions in the body surface located in different parts of the body.

TYPES OF ABRASION
⮚ Scratches- abrasions brought about by the stroke of the sharp pointed instrument over
the skin.

⮚ Grazes- due to forcible contact with a rough, hard object resulting to irregular removal
of the skin surface.

⮚ Impact or Imprint abrasion- an abrasion due to contact with a rough, hard object in
which the structural form of the object is reflected over the skin.

⮚ Pressure or Friction abrasion- an abrasion due to pressure applied and with accompany
movements over the skin.

2. Incised wound (cut,slash, hiwa)- an open wounds produce by forcible contact with sharp
edged instruments characterized by gaping of the wound with smooth edges and causing
profuse bleeding, e.g. knife, razor, broken glasses, metal sheet. The incised wound may be
suicidal, homicidal, accidental depending upon the location, directions and presence or
absence of hesitation cuts.
 When the wounding instrument is fairly large and hearing, like bolo, smurai, axe, saber
the wound produced is chopped or alike wounds.

SPECIAL CRIME INVESTAGATION

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SOUTHWAY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Criminology Department

3. Lacerated wound ( tear, putok)- wounds produced by blunt instrument characterized by ill-
defined or irregular edges, e.g. blow by piece of wood, lead pipe, stone, butt of a firearms, fist
blow.

4. Punctured Wound- an open wound produced by round bodied and pointed instrument
characterized by small opening, e.g. ice picks, nails, thorns, hooks, screw drivers and barbecue
sticks.

5. Stabbed wound- wound produced by sharp pointed and shrap edged instrument. the edges
of the wound are clean-cut, smooth and distinct. ⮚ Penetrating stab wound- involves solid
interval organs.

⮚ Perforating stab wound- involves hallow interval organs.

GUNSHOT AND SHRAPNEL WOUND

Is an open wound brought about by the penetrating power of the projectile propelled
by the expansive force of the burning gunpowder in the cartridge shell, shrapnel wounds are
open wounds produced by shrapnel and fragments of high velocity after detonation of high
explosives like granades and bombs.

Firearms- is an instrument used for the propulsion of the projectile by the expansive force of
gases coming from the burning gunpowder.

TYPES OF FIREARMS
⮚ Revolver- has cylindrical magazine capable of revolving action. It is a low velocity
 firearms with muzzle velocity of 600ft./sec.

⮚ Automatic pistol- self-loading firearms with muzzle velocity of 1,200ft./sec. classified as

low velocity firearms.

⮚ Rifle- with long barrel and butt with muzzle velocity of 2,500ft./sec. and a range of 3,000
feet classified as high velocity firearms.

⮚ Shot gun- the projectile is the collection of pellets or shots and without predetermined
directions.

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INSTANCES WHEN THE SIZE OF THE WOUND OF ENTRANCE DOES NOT APPROXIMATE THE
CALIBER OF THE FIREARMS

In distant fire, the rule is that diameter of the GSW of the entrance is almost the same as the
caliber of the wounding firearms expect: ⮚ Factors which make the wound of entrance bigger
than the caliber: ▪ In contact or near fire

▪ Deformity of the bullet which entered

▪ Bullet might have entered the skin sidewise
▪ Acute angular approach of the bullet.
⮚ Factors which make the wound of entrances smaller than the caliber. ▪ Fragmentation
of the bullet before penetrating the skin

▪ Contraction of the elastic tissues of the skin.

Characteristics of the wound of entrance

⮚ In general, the size of the wound of entrance is usually smaller the missile owing to
retraction the skin. the shape may be oval or circular. The edge of the wound is
inverted with contusion collar or abrasion collar around the wound of entrance.

⮚ In contact or closed range fire, there is burning of the skin and singeing of hair due to
flame and gunpowder tattooing.
 ▪ Contact fire- the wound of entrance bursted due to sudden release of the
expanded gas. There is burning of the tissues around the wound of entrance
because it is within the flame zone. There is soot, smoke and smudging. These
are here by product of the complete combustion of the gunpowder deposited
around the wound of entrance. Presence of smudging at the wound of entrance
indicates a near shot. Unburned and partially burned gunpowder is responsible
for tattooing, stippling or peppering around the wound of entrance. It becomes
lesser and lesser until it disappears beyond the distance of 24 inches.

▪ Near contact up to 6 inches distances- there is burning of tissues, burning and

blackening the skin as in contact fire but the particles of the gunpowder are
presents not only the inside

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SOUTHWAY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Criminology Department

but as well as around the wound may be lacerated, stellate or slit like and size is
larger than the diameter of the missile.

▪ Distance above 6 inches up to 24 inches and beyond- the size of wound gradually
approximates the size of the missile. As the distance from the target becomes
fathers, the burning, blackening of tissues, gunpowder tattooing or stippling and
singeing of hair becomes lesser and lesser until it disappears beyond the 24
inches distances.

Characteristics of wound of exit

⮚ Usually the size larger than the missile
⮚ It has no definite shape
⮚ The edge of the wound is averted.
⮚ Sometimes flaps the skin and tissues are seen protruding from the wound.

Characteristics between Gunshot wound of the entrance and exit ⮚ The size of the wound of
 entrance- is smaller than the missiles while the exit wound is bigger than the missiles.

⮚ Edge of the exit- the entrance wound is inverted while the exit wound is averted.

⮚ Shape of the wound- the entrance wound is round or oval while the exit wound has no
definite shape.

⮚ Contussion collar- present in the entry wound while absent in exit wound.

⮚ Gunpowder Tattooing- present in contact or near contact fire while absents in exit
wound.

⮚ Paraffin test- positive in the wound of entrance in contact and near contact fire, negative
in exit wounds.

DETERMINATION WHETHER THE GSW IS SUICIDAL, HOMICIDAL OR ACCIDENTAL

⮚ Evidence to prove that the GSW is suicidal

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▪ Parts of the body involved are accessible to the hands of the victim.

▪ There is usually one gunshot wound

▪ Presence of suicidal note
▪ Usually the distance is near or close range.
▪ History of frustration
▪ Drug dependency
⮚ Evidence that the gunshot wound is homicidal
▪ Wound is located in any parts of the body.
▪ The victim is usually at a certain distance from the assailant. ▪ Signs of struggle or
defense wound may be present of the part of the victim.

▪ Wounding weapon usually not found at the crime scene. ▪ There may be
disturbance in the surrounding.

Wound from explosion of explosive materials like dynamite and bombs ⮚ The explosive
material may be covered by soft materials such as piece of paper, cartoons, aluminum foils
 as exemplified in dynamite and big fire crackers while other explosive materials are
covered by metal as exemplified by grenades, bombs, mines, anti-aircraft and said missiles.

THE FOLLOWING INJURIES OCCUR FROM THE EXPLOSION OF THE EXPLOSIVE MATERIALS.

⮚ Blast wave injury- when the explosion occurs, it causes sudden increase of atmosphere
pressure followed by sudden decrease. This compression-decompression effect will be
relayed in the atmosphere producing destruction. Distortion and bursting of tissues
especially the interval organs causing hemorrhage.

⮚ Burns from flame and heated gases- the explosion of the powder will produce flame and
heated expanded gases.

⮚ Poison by inhalation of carbon monoxide, nitrous and nitric gases, hydrogen sulfide and
sulfur dioxide- the explosion cause liberation of poisonous gases which when inhaled in
sufficient amount will produce gas poisoning or asphyxia.

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SOUTHWAY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

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⮚ Direct injury from the flying missile- the detonation of high explosive especially whose
with metal covering will cause fragmentation of metal in the form of shrapnel.

The “odd and even rule” in gunshot wound

If the number of gunshot wounds of entrance and exit found in the body of the victim is
even, the presumption is that no bullet is lodged in the body but if the number of gunshot
wound entrance and exit is odd, the presumption is that one or more bullets might have
lodged in the body.

NO GSW OF EXIT BUT THE BULLET IS NOT FOUND IN THE BODY OF THE VICTIM

⮚ Bullet lodged in the gastro intestine tract and expelled thrown the bowel ⮚ Near contact
with blank cartridges of wound of entrance but no slug recovered.
 ⮚ Bullet may be enter the wound of entrance and upper hitting the bone, the course is
deflecting to have the wound of entrance as wound of exit.

INJURIES OF DEATH DUE TO EXTREMES OF TEMPERATURE The thermal injuries are those
caused when the body is exposed to an increase or decrease of environmental temperature.

EFFECT OFCOLD TEMPERATURE- when the body is exposed to cold or freezing temperature,
the dissociation power of oxygen from hemoglobin will becomes less thus diminishing the
tissues to utilize the oxygen prolonged exposure may cause necrosis and gangrene of the
tissues. the degree of damage depends upon the decrease in the temperature, duration of
exposure, vitality of his tissues involved, sex and condition of the body.

A short exposure to freezing temperature is dangerous to the body than a long cold dry
air. The children and old persons are easily injured by cold temperature because the thermo-
regulating centers in children are not yet fully develop while in older persons, the thermo-
regulating centers are

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deteriorated. Woman is more resistant to cold temperature to cold temperature than man due
to greater deposits of subcutaneous fats. Extreme fatigue, malnutrition, alcoholism and
previous illness are prone to the effects to cold temperature.

LOCAL EFFECTS OF COLD TEMPERATURE

⮚ Frostbite- expose of the certain parts of the body to cold temperature producing
mechanical description of the cell structure characterized by diminished body
temperature, cold stiffening and pallor which later lead to swelling thrombosis, necrosis
and gangrene of his affected tissues.

⮚ Trench Foot- a condition usually seen among those walking over the snow wherein the
foot is exposed to freezing temperature characterized by cold stiffening, muscle
cramps, necrosis and gangrene of the foot.

⮚ Immersion foot- a sub variety of trench foot wherein the foot is submerged into cold
 freezing liquid characterized by decreased body temperature, cold stiffening, muscle
cramps, necrosis and gangrene.

EFFECT OF THE HEAT IN THE BODY

Heat is a form of kinetic energy transferable from one body to another. ⮚ Specific heat-
is the number of calories required to raise the temperature of one gram of a particular
substances with a temperature of one degree centigrade.

⮚ Sensible heat- is the heat which when absorbed by the body produces a rise
temperature.

GENERALIZED OR SYSTEMATIC EFFECTS OF HEAT

⮚ Heat cramps- are a painful contraction of the skeletal muscles due to dehydration and
loss of sodium chloride to excessive sweating. ⮚ Heat exhaustion (heat collapse)- it is a
physiologic breakdown following exposure to heat precipitated by exertion and warm
clothing characterized by peripheral vasomotor collapse, faintness, palpitation

SPECIAL CRIME INVESTAGATION

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SOUTHWAY COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY

Criminology Department

nausea vomiting, syncope, dizziness and headache. The victim dies a heart failure.

⮚ Heat stroke ( sunstroke)- breaking down in sweating mechanism usually seen among
working in warm environment or direct exposure to sunlight manifested by elevation of
body temperature, mental confusion, congestion and hemorrhages in various organ.

LOCAL EFFECTS OF HEAT

⮚ Scald- burn due to contact with a hot or boiling liquid characterized by redness, pain and
blister formation. The injury in scolds depends upon the temperature of the liquid,
duration of contact, underlying clothing and the tissues involved. Boiling fat, cooking
oils, boiling syrup will cause more severe burning than water because of their boiling
points.
⮚ Burns- it is the injury due to application of physical heat in any form to the body and is
 characterized by redness, heat coagulation of tissues to actual charring, the effects of
intensity of heat, duration of contact, tissues involved, age, sex and accompanying
complications.

CLASSIFICATION OF BURNS

⮚ First degree- it is a burn which involves the superficial layer of the skin characterized by
redness and pain. E.g. SUNBURNS.
⮚ Second degree Burn- it is a burn which involves the superficial layer of the tissues and
skin and nerve endings characterized by blisters formation. This is the most painful burn
because of irritation of nerve endings.
⮚ Third degree- it is a burn involving the skin, nerves, muscles and bones which is usually
met in victims of conflagrations. This is the most severe burn because the victim usually
dies from loss of fluid and electrolytes and massive infection.