Anatomy and physiology of gunshot wound?

Answer 1

A gunshot wound can be penetrating, perforating, or grazing. A penetrating gunshot wound is one in which the bullet remains in the body; a penetrating gunshot wound only has an entrance wound. These injuries are often the most lethal, as they indicate that the entirety of the bullet's kinetic energy was transferred to the body. A perforating gunshot wound is one that passes through the body completely; there are both an entrance wound and an exit wound. The energy that remains in carrying the bullet once it has left the body can vary greatly; often, a bullet that has passed through a body can become deformed and tumble, thus making it very dangerous. However, sometimes the bullet has so little energy remaining it can't even break through clothing - in one reported case, a person was shot from the back, and the bullet passed through their back and exited their body from the chest, and the bullet was found in that person's breast pocket, as it had insufficient energy to break through the other side of the person's clothing. Of course, a grazing wound is one in which the bullet grazes the body as it passes, causing a generally milder injury than the other forms of gunshot wound.

When a bullet penetrates the body, it imparts some of its energy into the body. Typically this energy results in temporary cavity formation. This means that as the bullet creates a path through tissue, the path expands for a fraction of a second and then retracts. This expansion can damage tissue in its own right, making a bullet wound and its resulting injuries appear larger than the projectile itself. In flexible areas - such as the abdomen - there might be a higher resistance to the expansion and thus, the temporary cavity doesn't cause as much damage; but, in an inflexible area, such as the tough unyielding skull, the temporary cavity formation can result in severe pressures and devastating injuries. Most handguns aren't powerful enough to cause the skull to explode with a gunshot wound to the head, but weapons like shotguns and high-velocity rifles can cause the head to seemingly explode due to the pressures caused. Ammunition can be designed to contribute to injury secondary to temporary cavity formation. For example, hollow-point rounds are designed for that purpose. Despite myths, hollow-point rounds do not explode; they "mushroom" their tips upon impact thus increasing temporary cavity formation and ensuring that their kinetic energy gets transferred to the body. Their injuries can appear as though they were created with larger ammunition.

Point-blank gunshot wounds can also feature injuries caused by the hot gases released from the muzzle of the gun. There may be burns and soot marks at the entrance wound. Point-blank gunshot wounds to the head, as a result of the barrel being firmly held against skin upon tough bone, can have a unique appearance due to gases from the muzzle forcing under the skin, causing it to balloon out and tear, leaving a star-like tearing wound in the skin around the entrance wound. Shotguns fire a wad of small projectiles that spread as they travel, hence why shotguns are rarely lethal beyond a certain range from the muzzle (typically much shorter than that of a rifle). People shot from a distance by a shotgun may have many small penetrating wounds; the distance between the wounds and knowledge of the particular weapon can help to determine distance from the gun. However, at close-range, shotguns produce devastating injuries.

Everything that affects a projectile from launch through flight to impact will influence the injuries it can cause. Also, where on the body the projectile strikes makes a tremendous difference in the injury caused and its prognosis. The physiological state of the person shot can make a difference, as well. Some people can be shot only once in the chest by a small handgun before they fall to the ground and cease to be a threat. However, police reports have told stories of officers unloading six rounds from their standard-issue handgun directly into the chest of an assailant only to be attacked and hurt by their assailant. Other stories have told of people shot at close-range by a shotgun directly in the heart, immediately destroying it; however, the victim sprinted about 60 feet before collapsing. Another report involves an elderly man who attempted suicide with a .45 caliber revolver. He shot himself in the temple of his head, blowing out the back of his skull; however, he survived for almost two hours. Temporary cavity formation is a significant component of the resulting injury from a bullet, and that is influenced by the energy of the projectile at impact, whether it was flying straight and steadily or wobbling, etc.

Answer 2

A gunshot wound occurs when a bullet penetrates and damages tissue in the body. The extent of damage depends on various factors such as bullet velocity, caliber, and trajectory. In terms of physiology, a gunshot wound can cause hemorrhaging, tissue damage, and potential damage to vital organs leading to shock, infection, and in some cases, death. Treatment often involves controlling bleeding, surgical interventions to repair damage, and addressing potential complications such as infection.