MEDICO-LEGAL ASPECTS OF DEATH

Importance of Death determination:

1, The civil personality of a natural person is
extinguished by death.
2.The property of a person is transmitted to his heirs at
the time of death.
3. The death of a partner is one of the causes of
dissolution of partnership
agreement.
4. The death of either the principal or agent is a mode
of extinguishment of
agency.
5. The criminal liability is extinguish by death.
6. The civil case for claims which does not survive is
dismissed upon death of the
defendant.
Death is the termination of life.
Kinds of death:
1. Somatic or clinical death
persistence of vital functions
2. Molecular or cellular death
3 to six hours after cessation of life
3. Apparent death or State of suspended
animation
transient loss of consciousness in hysteria,
uremia, electric shock

respiration is taking place.

3. Cooling of the body ( ALGOR MORTIS)
- After death the metabolic process inside the body ceases.
- The progressive fall of the body temp. is one of the most prominent signs.
- First two hours after death the cooling is rapid.
- Fall of temp. of 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit is considered as a certain sign
of death.
POST-MORTEM CALORICITY is the rise of temp. of the body after death due
to rapid and early putrefactive changes. Usually in the first 2 hours.
= seen in cholera, liver abscess, tetanus, RF,Strynine poisoning,
Peritonitis
A.

Conditions connected with the body:

Factors delaying the rate of cooling of the body:

1. Acute pyrexial disease
2. Sudden death in good health
3. Obesity of person
4. Death from asphyxia
5. Death of the middle age
Factors accelerating cooling:
1. Leaness of the body
2. Extreme age
3. Long-standing illness
4. Chronic pyrexial disease with wasting
B. Conditions that are connected with the surroundings

Signs of death:
1. Cessation of heart action and circulation.,
Usually the auricle contract after somatic death fro a
longer period than the ventricle, last to stop so called

Factors delaying cooling:

1. Clothings
2. Want of access of air to the body
3. Small room
4. Warm surroundings

ULTIMEN MARIENS.
Methods of detecting the cessation of heart action
and circulation:
a) Examination of the heart- pulse, aucultation,
flouro, ECG
b) Examination of peripheral circulation
= Magnus test application of ligature around
the base of the finger
bloodless area
at site of
application
dead man no
change
= Opening of small artery- spurting
= Icards test injection of flourescein SQ
- greenish yellow discoloration in
the whole skin
- dead man only in the area of
injection
= Pressure on fingernails
= Diaphanous test fingers are spread wide
through a strong light- Red
= Application of heat on the skin - blister
= Palpation of Radial pulse
= Dropping of melted wax
2. Cessation of respiration more than 3 minutes
Methods of detecting cessation of respiration:
a) Observance of movement of chest and
abdomen
b) With the aid of stet.
c) Examination with a mirror
d) Examination with a feather or cotton fibers
e) Examination with a glass of water
f)
Winslows test no movement in the image
formed by reflecting artificial light on the
water in a saucer and placed in the chest if

Factors accelerating cooling:

1. Unclothed body
2. Conditions allowing the access of air
3. Large room permitting the dissipation of heat
4. Cooling more rapid in water than in air
Methods of estimating how long a person has been dead from the cooling
of the body:
1. If body temp. is normal at the time of death:
= the average rate of fall of the temp. during the first 2 hours is of the
difference of the body temperature and that of the air.
= the body attains the temp. of the surrounding air from 12 to 15 hours after
death in tropical countries.
2. Chemical Method ( Schourups formula for the determination of the time of
death of any cadaver whose CSF is examined for the concentrations of L.A.,
NPN, A.A.
= L.A> 15 mg to 200 mg/100cc rapid in 1st 5 hours.
= NPN inc. from 15 to 40 mg/100 cc in 1st 15 hours
= A.A. inc. from 1 mg to 12 mg% 1st 15 hours.
4. INSENSIBILITY OF THE BODY AND LOSS OF POWER TO MOVE
= may be seen in the living with- apoplexy, epilepsy , trance, catalepsy, hysteria
5. CHANGES IN THE SKIN opacity, flattening, loss of elasticity
6. CHANGES IN AND ABOUT THE EYE
a) Loss of corneal reflex seen I n live pts: G.A., uremia,
poisoning
b) Clouding of cornea
c) Flaccidity of the eyeball
d) Pupil in the position of rest.
e) TACHE NOIR DE LA SCLEROTIQUE spot found in the
after death.

narcotic

sclera

7. ACTION OF HEAT ON THE SKIN

= Heat applied while alive produced blister with serum and redness around
the area.

= Following combinations of signs show death has

occurred:
a) Loss of animal heat to a point not
compatible with life
b) Absence of response of muscle
stimulus
c) Onset of rigor mortis.
CHANGES IN THE BODY FOLLOWING DEATH
1. CHANGES IN THE MUSCLE complete relaxation
of the whole muscular system.
Three Stages After Death:
a) Stage of primary flaccidity ( POST-MORTEM
IRRITABILITY)
= muscle relax, may contract, dilated pupil,
sphincters are
relaxed
= presence of molecular life
= warm place: 1 hour and 51 minutes
= chemical reaction of muscle is alkaline
b) Stage of post-mortem rigidity ( CADAVERIC
RIGIDITY , DEATH STRUGGLE OF MUSCLES OR
RIGOR MORTIS)
= whole body is rigid due to contraction of the
muscles
= starts at muscle of neck, lower jaw
= Reaction is acidic due to inc. of lactic acid
= develops 3 to 6 hours after death in
temperate, earlier in warm
= last from 2 to 3 days in temperate, warm:
24-48H cold weather
18-36H summer
c) Stage of Secondary flaccidity or
Commencement of putrefaction
( DECAY OF MUSCLES)
= muscle are flaccid, not respond to stimuli,
reaction is alkaline
= due to dissolution of muscle proteins
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE TIME OF ONSET OF
RIGOR MORTIS
(1) Internal Factors
a) State of the muscles
= healthy appears late
= Onset is hastened in:
a.1 hunted animal
a.2 prolonged convulsion/lingering
illness
a.3 death from- TY, Cholera,
Phthisis, typhus
b) Age
= early onset aged and newborn
= delayed good health, good muscular
development
c) Integrity of nerves
= section of the nerve will delay onset,
paralyzed muscle

(2) External factors

a) Temperature
= Hastened by high temperature
= > 75 degrees will produce heat stiffening
b) Moisture
= rapidly but with short duration in moist air
Conditions simulating RIGOR MORTIS:
1. Heat stiffening - > 75 degrees coagulates muscle

proteins resulting to rigidity.

= Pugilistic attitude flexed upper and lower limb
= hands clenched, flexor stronger than extensors, burned to death
2. Cold stiffening
= due to solidification of fats when exposed to cold temp.
3. Cadaveric spasm or Instantaneous Rigor
= instantaneous rigidity due to extreme nervous tension, exhaustion,
injury to the nervous system.
= weapon in hand, weeds
RIGOR MORTIS CADAVERIC SPASM
1. Time of appearance 3-6H after death
Immediately after death
2. Muscles involved
All muscles
Certain group
3. Occurrence
Natural phenomena
May or may not appear
4. Medico-legal signif. Approximates time of death Determine nature of death
1. Contracted muscle
2. Elasticity
3. Litmus reaction
4. Contraction

RIGOR MORTIS
Losses transparency
Loss elasticity
Acidic
Absolute flaccidity

MUSCLE CONTRACTION
More or less transparent
Very elastic
Neutral or sl. alkaline
Possess inherent
contraction

2. CHANGES IN THE BLOOD

a) Coagulation of blood
= blood may remains fluid inside the blood vessels 6-8H after death.

1. Consistency
2. Surface of blood vessels
after
3. Clots

ANTE-MORTEM CLOT
POST-MORTEM CLOT
Firm
Soft
Raw after clots are removed Smooth, health
Homogenous
Can be stripped
cant be stripped
off in layers

b) Post-mortem Lividity or Cadaveric Lividity , or Post-mortem Suggilation or

Post-mortem Hypostasis or Livor Mortis
= Stoppage of heart action and loss of tone of b.v.
accumulates in
dependent areas except in bony areas.
= capillaries coalesce > purplish in color called Post-mortem
lividity.
= Hasten by death due to cholera, uremia, Typhus fever
= appears 3 6 H after death and fully developed 12 H after
death.
Physical characteristics of Post-mortem Cadaveric Lividity
1. Occurs in the most dependent areas.
2. Involves the superficial layer of the skin
3. Does not appear elevated from the rest of the skin.
4. Color is uniform.
5. No injury of the skin
Kinds of Post-mortem Cadaveric Lividity
1. Hypostatic lividity
2. Diffusion lividity
Importance of Cadaveric lividity:
1. One of the signs of death.
2. Determines the position of the body has been changed after its
appearance in the body.
3. Color of lividity may indicate the cause of death.
a) asphyxia lividity is dark
b) CO poisoning pink
c) Hemorrhage less marked
d) Hydrocyanic acid bright red
e) Phosphorus dark brown
f)
Potassium chlorate coffee brown
4. Determines how long the person has been dead
5. Gives us an idea as to the time of death.
Points to be considered which may infer the position of the body at the
time of death:
1. Posture of the body when found.
2. Post-mortem hypostasis or lividity
3. Cadaveric spasm
CONTUSSION (BRUISE)

POST-MORTEM HYPOSTASIS

1. Small bruises Below epidermis in true skin

cutis
larger ones - below this

In the epidermis or

2. Cuticle

Unabraded

Abraded by the same violence

that produce the bruise.

3. Bruise

Appears at the seat or surrounding

may or may not be dependent

4.

Elevated, inflammatory condition

CONTUSSION (BRUISE)

Always dependent
Not elevated, blood in b.v.

POST-MORTEM HYPOSTASIS

5. Incision shows blood outside the b.v.

= most certain test of difference

Blood inside the vessels

6.

Uniform color

Color variegated

Internal hypostasis in Visceral organs:

1. Lungs
2. Loops of intestine
3. Brain
POST-MORTEM LIVIDITY OF ORGANS
1. Post-mortem
staining in organs Irregular, most dependent parts
2. Mucous membrane
Dull,lusterless
3. Inflammatory exudate Not seen

2. Evolution of gasses in the tissues

CO2, ammonia, H2, Suphurated hydrogen, methane.= offensive odor
Effects of pressure of gasses of putrefaction:
a) displacement of the blood bleeding in open wounds
b) bloating of the body
c) fluid coming out from nostrils, mouth
d) extrusion of the fetus in a gravid uterus
e) floating of the body
3. Liquefaction of the soft tissues
Putrefy rapidly : Eyeball, lining of trachea, larynx , brain,
stomach, intestine, liver, spleen
Putrefy late
: Highly muscular organs and tissues, Esophagus,
diaphragm, heart, lungs, kidneys, U.B., uterus, P.G.

SIMPLE CONGESTION
Uniform, all organs
Not in congestion
Not seen

Other changes in the blood

1. Hydrogen ion concentration acid pH CO2, L.A.,
After 24H alkaline ammonia.
2. Breakdown of liver glycogen leads to accumulation
of dextrose in the IVC and
the right side of the heart.
3. Rise in NPN and Free A.A.
4. Chemical:
= chloride in the plasma/RBC decrease due to
extravascular diffusion, in
72 H only of its content.
= Mg increases due to diffusion from without.
= K increases due to diffusion from the
vascular endothelium.
3. AUTOLYTIC OR AUTODIGESTIVE CHANGES
AFTER DEATH
- After death, proteolytic, glycolytic and lipolytic
ferments of the glandular
tissues continue to act which lead to the
autodigestion of organs.

Factors modifying the RATE of putrefaction:

1. INTERNAL FACTORS
a) age
: healthy adults, NB not yet
fed, later than infants
b) condition of body : full grown/obese rapid ,
Stillborn- late
c) cause of death : infection - rapid
2. EXTERNAL FACTORS
a) Free air
a.1 air : free air hastens decomposition
a.2 moderate moisture - accelerates
a.3 loaded with septic bacteria early aerobes, later
anaerobic
- Clostridium welchii= decomposition
b) Earth
b.1 dry absorbent soil - retards
b.2 moist fertile soil - accelerates
c) Running water- more rapid than still water
d) Clothings early it hastens but delays in the later
stage.
- tight clothings - delay

Tissue changes in putrefaction:

Factors influencing the changes in the body after burial:

1. state of the body before death thin slower, mummify
2. time elapsed between death and burial and environment of the body
3. effect of coffin later
4. clothings and other coverings on the body when buried pressure,
insects
5. depth at which the body was buried - greater the later
6. condition and type of soil
7. inclusion of something in the grave which will hasten decompositionfood
8. access of air to the body after burial
9. mass grave rapid
10. trauma to the body violent death - slow

1. Changes in the color of the tissue

Hemolysis of blood within blood vessels > Hgb
diffuses through the walls

CHRONOLOGICAL SEQUENCE OF PUTREFACTIVE CHANGES OCCURING

IN TEMPERATE REGIONS

4. PUTREFACTION OF THEBODY
- Is the breaking down of complex proteins into
simpler components associated
with the evolution of foul smelling gasses and
accompanied by the change of
color of the body.

Reddish-brown in color
In the tissues > Hgb undergo
chemical change
Greenishyellow 1st seen at R Iliac fossa
MARBOLIZATION prominence of the superficial
veins with reddish
discoloration which develops
on both flanks of the
abdomen, neck, and shoulder
= look like marbled reticule of
branching veins.

1-3 DAYS AFTER DEATH

3-5 DAYS
8-10 DAYS
14-20 DAYS
2-5 MONTHS

- greenish discoloration over iliac fossa, soft eyeballs

- frothy blood from mouth, nostrils
- abdominal distention, nails firm
- blisters all over the body, maggots
- skull exposed, orbits empty

IN TROPICAL REGION
12 HOURS
24 HOURS
48 H
72 H
ONE WEEK
TWO WEEKS

Rigor mortis all over, hypostasis, greenish-discoloration caecum

Rigor mortis absent all over, abdominal distention
Ova of flies, trunk bloated, face discolored
Whole body grossly swollen, hairs and nails loose
Soft viscera putrefied
Soft tissues largely gone

ONE MONTH

Body skeletonized

PRESUMPTION OF DEATH
Disputable presumption - not heard in 7 years

BEEN SUBMERGED IN WATER

FIRST 4 OR 5 DAYS
mortis
FROM 5 7 DAYS
face faded
1 2 WEEKS
hands and
4 WEEKS
6 8 WEEKS
hands/ feet
with nails

Cold water little change, in rigor

Skin on hands, feet is bleached,
white
Face swollen and red, skin of
feet wrinkled
Skin wrinkled, nail intact
Abdomen distended, skin of
come off

Factors influencing the floating of the body in

water:
1. age fully developed, well nourished - rapid
2. sex females floats sooner
3. conditions of the body obese float quicker
4. season of the year moist hot air
putrefaction floats due to gas
5. water- shallow and stagnant water of creeks,
higher specific gravity
- sea water floats sooner than fresh water,
higher specific gravity
6. external influence heavy-wearing apparel slower
Only teeth, bones and hair remain for an indefinite
time.
Flat bones disintegrates faster than round bones.
SPECIAL MODIFICATION OF PUTREFACTION
1. Mummification
= is the dehydration of the whole body which results
in the
shivering and preservation of the body.
= usually occurs when buries in a hot, dry with free
access of
hot air
2. Saponification or Adipocere fromation
= a condition where the fatty tissues of the body
are
transformed to soft brownish-white
substance known as ADIPOCERE at SQ level.
3. Maceration
= softening of the tissues when in fluid medium in
the absence
of putrefactive mircro-org, seen in
death in utero
reddish or greenish color, skin peeling off and arms
flaccid and
frail.
HOW LONG A PERSON HAS BEEN DEAD?
DURATION OF DEATH
1. Presence of rigor mortis : 2-3 hours after death
12 H fully developed
18-36 H disappears concomitant with
putrefaction
2. Presence of Post-mortem lividity
3-6 H after death
appears as small petechia-like red spots
3. Onset of decomposition
24-48 H after death
manifested watery. foul smelling froth, mouth, nostrils
4. Stage of decomposition
5. Entomology of the cadaver 24 H before eggs are hatched, maggots
6. Stage of digestion

- 3-4 H gastric empty

6-8 distal ileum, cecum

7. Presence of live flies in the clothing in the drowning victim less than 24H

Presumption of death
Absence of 7 years except succession 10 years
Vessel for 4 years
Armed forces 4 years
In danger of death 4 years
PRESUMPTION OF SURVIVORSHIP
1. under 15 y.o. older survives
2. above 60 y.o.- younger
3. under 15, above 60 - former
4. over 15 and under 60 y.o. male, older
5. under 15, or over 60 y.o. and the other in between - latter
MEDICO-LEGAL INVESTIGATION OF DEATH
Inquest Officer is an official of the state charged with the duty of
inquiring into certain matters.
- in medico-legal examination: manner and cause
of death
The following officials of the government are authorized to make death
investigations:
1. Provincial and City Prosecutors
2. Judges of the RTC, MTC
3. Director of NBI
4. SolGen
Stages of MEDICO-LEGAL INVESTIGATION:
1.Crime Scene Investigation investigation of place of
commission of the crime
2.Autopsy
- investigation of the body of the
victim
1. Crime Scene Investigation
- place where the essential ingredients of the crime took place.
- Person composed the Search Team:
a) Physician MLI trained
b)
Photographer
c) Assistant, evidence collector, note taker
2. Autopsy
- comprehensive study of a dead body, in addition to the external
examination . Post-mortem examination- external exam without incision being
made.
Purpose of autopsy:
1. Determine cause of death
2. Correlate clinical diagnosis and symptoms
3. Determine effectiveness of treatment
4. Study the natural course of the disease
5. Educate students and physicians
MEDICO-LEGAL OR OFFICIAL AUTOPSY:
1. Determine cause, manner, time of death
2. Recovering, identifying, preserving evidentiary material
3. Provide interpretation and correlation of facts related to death
4. Provide factual, objective medical report
5. Separating death due to disease from external causes.
Dead body belongs to the state for cases that requires medico-legal autopsy.

8. State of clothings
- pajama , night
9. Changes in CSF
10. Blood clots inside the b.v. in 6 8 H after death.
11. Soft tissues of the body may disappear 1 to 2 years after burial.

Post-mortem conditions simulating disease,

poisoning or injury:
1. post mortem hypostasis contusion,
inflammation , poisoning
2. blisters of the cuticle scald and burns
3. swelling, detachment or splitting - injury

PATHOLOGICAL AUTOPSY
1. Requirement
2. Confirmation
3. Emphasis
4. Conclusion
5. Minor

MEDICO-LEGAL AUTOPSY

Consent of next of kin

Clinical findings of research

Law that gives the consent

Correlate tissue changes to
criminal act
Notation at all abnormal findings Effect of wrongful act
Summation of all abnormal findings Specific to the purpose
Need not be mentioned
Included if useful

The following manner of death should be autopsied:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Death by violence
Accidental deaths
Suicides
Sudden death of persons who are in good
health
Death unattended by physician
D.O.A. with no clinical diagnosis
Death occurring in an unnatural manner

Mistakes in autopsy:
1. Error or omission in the collection of
evidence for identification
2. Errors or omission in the collection of
evidence required fro establishing the time
of death
3. Errors or omission in the collection of
evidence required fro the medico-legal
examination.
4. Errors or omission result in the production
of undesirable artifacts or in the destruction
of valid evidence.
Negative autopsies
- if after all efforts including gross and microscopic
studies and toxicological analysis fail to reveal a cause
of death.
Negligent autopsy
No cause of death is found due to imprudence,
negligence, lack of skill, lack of foresight.
MEDICO-LEGAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE
CAUSES OF DEATH
a. Natural death cause by natural disease condition
in the body.
b. Violent death
1. Accidental death
2. Negligent death
3. Infanticidal death
4. Parricidal death
5. Murder
6. Homicidal death
If signs of violence are associated with the natural
cause of death:
The following are deaths due to natural causes:
1. Affection of the CNS
a. Cerebral apoplexy sudden loss of
consciousness followed by paralysis or
death due to Hemorrhage
from thrombosis or
embolism in the cerebral
vessels.
b. Abscess of the brain
c. Meningitis of the fulminant type
2. Affection of the circulatory system
a. Occlusion of the coronary vessels :
=most common cause of Sudden death
due to natural causes.
b. Fatty or myocardial degeneration of the
heart.
c. Rupture of the aneurysm of the aorta
d. Valvular heart disease
e. Rupture of the heart
3. Affections of the Respiratory system
a. Acute edema of the larynx
b. Tumor of the larynx
c. Diptheria
d. Edema of the lungs
e. Pulmonary embolism
f.
Lobar pneumonia

g.

Pulmonary hemorrhage

4. Affections of the GIT

a. Ruptured PUD
b. Acute intestinal obstruction
5. Affections of the GUT
a. Acute strangulated hernia
b. Ruptured tubal pregnancy
c. Ovarian cyst with twisted pedicle
6. Affection of the glands
a. Status thymico-lymphaticus
b. Acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis
7. Sudden death in young children
a. Bronchitis
b. Congestions of the lungs
c. Acute broncho-pneumonia
d. Acute gastroenteritis
e. Convulsion
f.
Spasm of the larynx
B. Violent death
- are due to injuries inflicted in the body by some forms of
force.
The physical injury must be the proximate cause of death.
= That the victim at the time the physical injuries were inflicted
normal health.
= That the death may be expected from the physical injuries
= That the death ensued within a reasonable time.

outside
was in
inflicted.

CLASSIFICATION OF TRAUMA OR INJURIES

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Physical injury trauma sustained through the use of

physical force.
Thermal injury injury by heat or cold
Electrical injury electrical energy.
Atmospheric injury due to change of atmospheric pressure.
Chemical injury chemicals
Radiation injury radiation
Infection microbic invasion

PENAL CLASSIFICATION OF VIOLENT DEATHS

1. Accidental deaths due to misadventure or accident.
Art. 12 no. 4 RPC
Any person who while performing a lawful act with due care, causes an
injury by mere accident without fault or intention of causing it.
Ex. Patient died of ATS injection after proper skin test.
2. Negligent death felonies may be committed when the wrongful act is due to
reckless imprudence, negligence, lack of skill or foresight.
Ex. Surgeon left a pack Homicide through reckless
imprudence
3. Suicidal death , destruction of ones self
- not punished, unfortunate being.
- Art 253 RPC Giving assistance to suicide. Punishable
because
he has no right to destroy or assist in the
destruction of life of another.
4. Parricidal deaths
Art. 246 father, mother, child, (leg/illeg) ascendant, descendant, spouse (leg.)
5. Infanticidal deaths Art. 255 killing of a child less than 3 days
6. Murder Art. 248
treachery, consideration, means of inundation, occasion of calamities,
evident pre-meditation, cruelty
7. Homicidal deaths Art 249
DEATHS UNDER SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
1. Death caused in a tumultuous affray Art 251.
2. Deaths or physical injuries inflicted under exceptional
circumstances. Art 247

2. PATHOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE

CAUSES OF DEATH
a. Death due to syncope fatal and sudden
cessation of the action of the heart.
b.

Death from asphyxia a condition in which

the supply of oxygen to the blood or to the
tissues or to both has been reduced below
normal working level.
Stage of increasing dyspnea 1 min
Stage of Expiratory convulsion
Stage of exhaustion 3 min

c. Death from coma

= The effect of the application of physical injury on person is the

production of wound.
= A disruption of the anatomic integrity of the tissues of the
body.
= However, not all physical violence will result in the production of
wound.
Physics of wound production:
a.

MV2
Kinetic energy = __________
2

`Velocity component is the important factor:

M16 rifle with a velocity of 3200 ft/ sec causes
damage more than a heavier .38 caliber.
b.

SPECIAL DEATHS
1.

Judicial deaths Art. III Sec.1

Par. 19 Phil. Const. cruel and
unusual punishment shall not be
inflicted. ; electrocution, hanging,
musketry, gas chamber.
2. Euthanasia or mercy killing
3. Suicide
Automatism - due to drug may
be considered
as
accidental rather than suicidal.
Evidences that will infer death is suicidal:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

History of depression, mental disease.

Previous attempt
Injuries are located in areas accessible to
hand.
Effects of the act of self-destruction may be
found in the victim;, empty bottle
Presence of suicidal note.
Secluded, not in public view.
Evidences which rule out H,M, P

Time
= The shorter the period of time needed for the transfer of energy,
the greater the likelihood of producing damage.
= If a person is hit on the body and the body moves towards the
direction of the force applied, the injury is less as when the body is stationary.
= The longer the time of contact between the object or instrument
causing the injury, the greater will be the dissipation of energy.
c.

Area of transfer
= The larger the area of contact between the force applied on the
body, the lesser the damage to the body.
= By applying an equal force, the damage caused by stabbing is
greater compared to a blunt instrument.
d. Other factors
= The less elastic and plastic the tissue > the greater that a
laceration will result.
=

Elasticity :
Ability of the tissue to return to its normal sizes and shape after
being deformed by a pressure.
= A force transmitted through a tissue containing fluid will force the
fluid away from the area of contact in all directions equally, frequently causing
the tissue to lacerate.
VITAL REACTION

4.

Death from starvation :

= It is the sum total of all reactions of tissue or organ to trauma, either

observed micro or macroscopically.

Cause may be due to suicidal, homicidal or accidental.

The human body without food losses 1/24th of its
weight daily.
And 40% loss>death

a. RUBOR redness or congestion of the area due to an increase of blood

supply as a part of the reparative mechanism.
b. CALOR Sensation of heat or increase in temperature.

Factors that influence the length of survival: age,

condition of the body, sex, environment.
MEDICO-LEGAL ASPECTS OF PHYSICAL
INJURIES
Physical injury : is the effect of some of stimulus on
the body.
Stab wound the effect is immediate
but a
blunt object is delayed production on
the
contusion.

c. DOLOR - pain due to involvement of the sensory nerve.

d. LOSS OF FUNCTION- due to trauma, the tissue may not
function.
The presence of vital reaction differentiates an ante-mortem from a post-mortem
injury.
EXCEPT: vital reactions not seen even if injury inflicted during life:
1. During agonal state of a living person were cells dont
the trauma.
2. Sudden death as in sudden coronary occlusion.

react to

Causes of Physical Injuries

CLASSIFICATION OF WOUNDS:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Physical violence
Heat or cold
Electrical energy
Chemical energy
Radiation by radioactive substances
Change of atmospheric pressure
Infection

1. PHYSICAL INJURIES BROUGHT ABOUT BY

PHYSICAL VIOLENCE

1. AS TO SEVERITY
a. Mortal wound caused immediately after infliction that is
capable of death.
Parts of body that are mortal heart, vessels, CNS,
lungs, other organs.
b. Non-mortal wound - Not capable of producing death
after infliction.

2. AS TO KIND OF INSTRUMENT USED

lacerated

e.Extensive injury Physical injury involving a greater area of the body

beyond the site of the application of force.
Example : Fall or MVA

a. Blunt instrument contusion, hematoma,

wound.
b. Sharp instrument
= Sharp-edge instrument> incised

wound
= Sharp pointed

>

punctured wound
= Sharp edge and sharp-pointed

6. AS TO REGIONS OR ORGANS OF THE BODY INVOLVED

Injuries in various parts of the body
7. SPECIAL TYPES OF WOUNDS
a) DEFENSE WOUNDS
Instinctive reaction of selfpreservation. >
hands/fractures

> stab
b)PATTERNED WOUND
Wound in the nature and
shape of the instrument. >
Wheels,abrasions from rope.

c. Wounds brought about by tearing force

lacerated
wound
d. By change in atmospheric pressure
barotraumas.
e. Wounds brought about by heat or cold
frostbite,
scald, burns.
f. Wounds brought about by chemical
explosion GSW,
shrapnel wound
g. Wounds brought about by infection.
3. AS TO THE MANNER OF INFLICTION
a) HIT means of bolo, blunt instrument, axe.
b) TRUST or STAB bayonet dagger
c) GUN POWDER EXPLOSION Projectile
or shrapnel
wound.
d) SLIDING or RUBBING or ABRASION
4. AS REGARDS TO THE DEPTH OF THE WOUND
a) Superficial wound involves only the
layers of the
skin.
b)
Deep inner structures beyond the
layers of the skin.
PENETRATING WOUND - Wounding agent did not
come out
or Piercing a solid organ.
PERFORATING WOUND Wounding agent
produces communication between the inner and outer
portion of the hollow organs.
OR piercing or traversing completely a particular part
of the body causing communication between the points
of entry and exit of the instrument or substance
producing it.

c)SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS - Wound produced on oneself

but no intention to end his life.
TYPES OF WOUNDS ( MEDICAL CLASSIFICATION)
1. CLOSED WOUND no breach of continuity of the skin or
mucous membrane.
a. Superficial When the wound is just underneath the
layers of the skin or mucous membrane.
a.1 PETECHIAE is a circumscribed extravasation of
blood in the subcutaneous tissue
or
underneath the mucous
membrane.
Example : mosquito bite, blood disease, hanging
a.2 CONTUSSION is the 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 blunt force or
violence.
= size of contusion greater than the size of
the object.
= Location of the contusion is not always
the site of application of the force.
Example:
Black eye> Forehead
Medico-legal point of view:
A contusion as indicated by its external pattern may correspond to
the
> shape of the object or weapon used.
Extent
> the possible degree of violence
applied.
Distribution> indicates the character and manner of
in manual strangulation around the neck.

injury as

Age of Contusion: appreciated from its color change

5. AS REGARDS TO THE RELATION OF THE SITE
OF APPLICATION OF FORCE AND THE LOCATION
OF INJURY

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.

a. Coup Injury Physical injury which is located at

the site of the
application of force.
b. Contre-coup injury opposite the site of the
application of
force.

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.

c. Coup contre-coup injury site and also opposite

of application
of force.

The ultimate disappearance of color varies from 1 to 4 weeks

depending upon the severity and constitution of the body.

d. Locus minoris resistencia Physical injury not

located at the
site nor
opposite the site of the
application of force but in some
areas offering the least resistance
to the force applied.
Example: Blow in fore head > contusion on
the region of
the eyeball.

The color changes starts at the periphery.

CONTUSION VS. POST-MORTEM HYPOSTASIS
Contusion
Below the epidermis in the true skin in small bruises or extravasations,
below this in larger ones and often much deeper still.
The epidermis has no blood vessels to be ruptured.

Post mortem Hypostasis

In the epidermis or in the cutis as a simple stain
or a showing through the epidermis of the underlying
engorged capillaries.
Contusion
Cuticle was probably abraded by the same
violence that produced the bruise. In small punctures
such as fleas bites, this is not observed.
Post-mortem hypostasis
Cuticle unabraded, because the hypostasis is a
mere sinking of the blood, there is no trauma.
Contusion
A bruise appears at the seat of and surrounding
the injury. This may or may not be a dependent part.
Post-mortem hypostasis
Always in a part which for the time of information
is dependent.
Contusion
Often elevated because elevated blood and
subsequent inflammation swell the tissues.

the more
effusion of blood.
4. Disease Contusion may develop with or without
application of force.
Example: Aplastic anemia, whooping cough
5. Age Children and old age tend to bruise easily.
6. Sex women, obese easily develops unlike boxers.
7. Application of heat and cold
The distinction between ante-mortem and post-mortem contusions in an
undecomposed body is that in ;
1.

Ante-mortem bruising: there is swelling, damage to epithelium,

extravasation, coagulation and infiltration of the tissues with blood
2. Post-mortem bruising there are no such findings.
-

a.3 HEMATOMA
is the extravasation or effusion of blood in a newly formed cavity
underneath the skin. When the blunt instrument hit a hard part of the
body like a bony part which is superficially located.
Force causes the subcutaneous tissue to rupture on account of the
presence of a hard structure underneath..

DISTINCTION BETWEEN CONTUSION AND HEMATOMA

1.

Post-mortem hypostasis
Not elevated, because either the blood is still in
the vessels or at most has simply soaked into and
stained the tissues.
Contusion
Incision shows blood outside the vessels. This is
the most certain test of difference and can be
observed even in very small bruises.
Post-mortem hypostasis
Incision shows the blood is still in its vessels and
if any oozing occurs drops can be seen issuing from
the cut mouths of the vessels.
Contusion
Color variegated. This is only true of bruises that
are the same days old due to the changes in the
hemoglobin produced during life.

In contusion- the effused blood are accumulated in the interstices of

the tissues underneath the skin
In hematoma blood accumulates in a newly formed
cavity
underneath the skin.
1.

in contusion, theskin shows no elevation and is ever elevated, the

elevation is slight and is on account of inflammatory changes
In hematoma the skin is always eelevated.

2.

In contusion, puncture or aspiration with syringe of the lesion, no

blood can be obtained.
In hematoma shows presence of blood and subsequent depression
of the elevated lesion.

Abscess, gangrene, hypertrophy, fibroid thickening and

malignancy are potential complications of
hematoma.
MUSCULO-SKELETAL INJURIES
1.

Post-mortem hypostasis
Color is uniform. The well known change in color
produced in blood Extravasated Into living tissues
does not occur in dead tissues with the same
regularity.
Contusion
If the body happens to be constricted at or
supported on a bruised place, the actual surface of
contact may be a little lighter than the rest of the bruise
but will not be white.
Post-mortem hypostasis
In a place which would otherwise be the seat of
hypostasis pressure of any kind even simple support is
sufficient to obliterate the lumen of the venules and
capillaries and so to prevent their filling with blood.
White lines or patches of pressure bordered by
the dark color of hypostasis are produced and marks
of floggings, strangulation, etc. are thus sometimes
simulated.
FACTORS INFLUENCING THE DEGREE AND
EXTENT OF CONTUSSION
1.
2.

General condition of the patient.

Part of the body affected. Fatty tissues,
bloody parts > contused easily
Fibrous areas, muscle
> less
3. Amount of force applied The greater the force,

even

2.
3.

Sprain - partial or complete disruption in the continuity os a muscular

or ligamentous support of a joint, due to a blow, kick or torsion force.
Dislocation displacement of the articular surface of bones entering
into the formation of a joint.
Fracture solution of continuity of bone resulting from violence or
some existing pathology.

a. Close or Simple Fx no break in continuity of the

overlying skin.
b. Open or Compound Fx Fx is complicated by an
open wound caused by the
broken bone which protruded
tissues of the
broken skin.
c. Comminuted Fx Fractured bone is fragmented into
several pieces.
d. Greenstick Fx Fx wherein only one side of the bone
is broken while the other is merely
e. Linear Fx when the Fx forms a crack usually in flat
bones.
f. Spiral Fx break in the bones forms a spiral manner
as seen in long bones.
g. Pathologic Fx Fx caused by weakness of the bone
due to disease.
4.

with other

bent.

Strain the over-stretching instead of an actual tearing or the rupture

of a muscle or ligament which may not be associated with the joint.

5. Sublaxation Incomplete or partial dislocation.

INTERNAL HEMORRHAGE
rupture of blood vessels which may cause hemorrhage due to the
following:

a.
b.
c.

Traumatic intracranial
hemorrhage.
Rupture of parenchymatous
organs.
Laceration of other part of
the body.

nature of the rubbing object and the

5.

direction of movement.

Abrasion heals in a short time and leaves no scar unless

if not infected or if the whole thickness of the skin is
involved.

CEREBRAL CONCUSSION ( COMMOTIO

CEREBRI )
- THE JARRING OR STUNNING OF THE BRAIN
CHARACTERIZED BY MORE OR LESS COMPLETE
SUSPENSION OF ITS FUNCTIONS AS A RESULT OF
INJURY TO THE HEAD WHICH LEADS TO SOME
COMMOTION OF THE CEREBRAL SUBSTANCE.

Forms of abrasion
1. Linear abrasion appears as a single line, straight
or curve.
= pinching with fingernails = curve
a.
= sliding the point of a needle =
straight linear ab.

- is more severe when the moving or mobile head

struck a fixed hard object as compared when the head
is fixed and struck by a hard moving object.

2. Multi-linear develops when the skin is rubbed on

a hard rough object producing
several linear marks parallel to one
another.
Example: MVA

Signs and Symptoms

1. unconsciousness which is more or less
complete.
2. muscles are relax and flaccid.
3. eyelids are closed and the conjunctivae are
insensitive.
4. surface of the body is pale, cold and
clammy.
5. respiration is slow and sighing.
6. pulse is rapid, weak, faltering and scarcely
perceptible to the fingers.
7. temperature is subnormal.
8. sphincters are relaxed with unconscious
evacuation of the bowel and bladder.
9. reflexes are present but sluggish and in
severe cases may be absent.
Loss of memory for events just before the injury is a
constant effect of cerebral concussion and is of
medico-legal importance.
2.

OPEN WOUNDS

a. Abrasion ( Scratch, graze, impression mark,

friction mark )
- it is an injury characterized by the removal of
the
superficial epithelial layer of the skin caused
by a rub r
friction against a hard rough
object.
- Contussion with abrasion = forcible contact
before friction
occurs.
- the shape varies and the raw surface exudes
blood and
lymph which later dries and forms
a protective covering
as SCAB or CRUST.
Characteristics of abrasion:
1. It develops at the precise point
of the force causing it.
2. Grossly or with the aid of a
hand lens the injury consists of
parallel linear injuries which are
in line with the direction of rub
or friction causing it.
3. It may exhibit the pattern of the
wounding material.
4. Usually ignored by attending
physician. Medico-legal
viewpoint
= abrasions caused by fingernails may
indicate
struggle or assault
and are usually located in the face,
neck,
forearms and hands.
= abrasions resulting from friction on
rough
surfaces are located in
bony parts and are
usually
associated with contusion or laceration.
= nature of the abrasion may infer
degree of
pressure,

3. Confluent linear marks in the skin are almost

indistinguishable on account of the
severity of friction and roughness of the
object.
4. Multiple several abrasions of varying sizes and
shapes may be found in different parts
of the body.
Types of abrasion
1. Scratch caused by sharp pointed object which slides across
skin, like pin, thorn or fingernail.
- Injury usually parallel to the direction of slide.
= Fingernail scratch > broad at point of commencement
tailing at the end.

the
with

2. Graze usually caused by forcible contact with rough, hard

objects
resulting to irregular removal of the skin
surface.
= course indicated by a clean commencement and tags
on the
end.
3. Impact or imprint abrasion ( patterned abrasion, stamping
abrasion,
abrasion a la signature)
- those whose pattern and location provides objective
evidence
to show cause, nature of the wounding instrument and the manner of assault or
death.
= marks of grid of radiator, thread marks of wheel, teeth
marks.
4. Pressure or friction abrasion caused by pressure
accompanied by
movement usually observed in hanging or strangulation.
= spiral strands of the rope as seen in the skin in
hanging.
Differential diagnosis:
1. Dermal erosion - gradual breakdown or very shallow
ulceration of the skin which involves only the
heals without scarring.

epidermis and

2. Marks of insects and fishes bites skin injury is irregular with no vital
reaction and usually found on angles of the mouth, margins of nose, eyelids and
forehead.
3. Excoriation of the skin by excreta found in infants and the skin lesions
heals when the cause is removed. No apparent history of rubbing trauma on the
affected area.
4. Pressure sore usually found at the back at the region of bony prominence.
History of longstanding illness, bed ridden.

ANTEMORTEM ABRASION
COLOR
LOCATION

reddish-bronze due to slight

exudation of blood
any area

VITAL
with intravital reaction
REACTION may show remains of damaged
Epithelium

POSTMORTEM ABRASION
yellowish and transparent
over bony prominence
Rough handling of the cadaver
shows not vital reaction and
is characterized by a separation
of the epidermis from

Complete loss of the former.

b. Incised wound ( cut, slash, slice)

produced by a sharp-edged ( cutting)

=
=
=

or sharp-linear edge of the instrument like a knife,

razor, bolo, glass etc.

Impact cut > when there is forcible contact of the cutting instrument
with the body surface.
Slice cut > when cutting injury is due to the pressure accompanied
with movement of the instrument
Chopped or Hacked wound > when the wounding instrument is a
heavy cutting instrument like saber
> injury is severe

wound.

victim struggled when attacked

POSITN OF May be sitting or facing a

THE BODY
mirror or standing

Usually victim lying on bed

or in other place.

WOUNDING Firmly grasp (cadaveric spasm)

WEAPON
or found lying beside the
victim.
BLOOD
Bld found in front part of body
DISTRIBUTION Hand smeared with blood.
MOTIVE

Weapon is absent

Bld found at the back of neck.

Hands are clean.

History of mental depression,

Financial, social problems, alcoholism

PREVIOUS Hx May be present

Of SELF-DESTRUCTN

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Characteristics of incised wound:

Edges are clean cut.
The wound is straight
Usually the wound is shallow near the
extremities and deep at the middle portion.
Profuse hemorrhage because of the clean
cut on the vessels.
Gaping is usually present due to the
retraction of the edges.
Clothes will also show a clean cut if cut by
the instrument.
Faster healing if without complications.
Incised wound made by broken glasses
maybe irregular, needs to be removed.

Changes that occur in an incised wound:

After 12 hours edges are swollen,
adherent with blood and with leukocyte
infiltration.
2. After 24 hours proliferation of the vascular
endothelium and connective tissue cells.
3. After 36 to 48 hours capillary network
complete, fibroblasts running at right angles
to the vessels.
4. After 3 to 5 days vessels show thickening
and obliteration.
1.

Why a person suffers from incised

wound:
1.
2.
3.
4.

As a therapeutic procedure.
As a consequence of self-defense
Masochist may self-inflict incised wounds
for self-gratification.
Addicts and mental patients.

Suicidal wounds usually located in peculiar parts of

the body, accessible to the hand.
the most common site is the wrist, radial
artery and the neck.
Homicidal wounds usually deep, multiple and
involves both accessible and non-accessible parts.
clothing are usually involved
Defense and other forms of wounds are
present.
Accidental wounds multiple incised wounds
observed on the passenger and driver of MVA due to
broken windshields.
kitchen knives in the preparation of food.

SUICIDAL WOUNDS

HOMICIDAL

WOUNDS
DIRECTION Oblique from below left ear,
below
downwards across front neck
just above Adams apple
SEVERITY
cause

Usually horizontal
the adams apple

Usually not so deep and

Usually deep and may

may only involve trachea,

involvement of the

carotid and esophagus

and bones.

Usually present before the

Practically absent but

commencement of deeper

rarely be present when

cartilage
SUPERFL
may
CUT
the

Absence of such history

Always absent

3. STAB WOUNDS is produced by the penetration of a sharp and a sharp

edged instrument like a knife, scissors.
if the sharp edge is the one that comes in contact with the skin then it
is an incised wound.
If the sharp pointed portion first come in contact, it is a stab wound.
= surface length may reflect the width of the wounding
instrument.
= smaller when the wound is not so deep.
= wider if upon withdrawal is not in the same direction as
seen in
slashing movement. The presence of an
abrasion from the
extremity of the skin defect is in line
with direction of the slashing
movement.
The extremities of stab wound may show the nature of the instrument used.
a doubled bladed weapon shows both extremities to be sharp.
A single bladed weapon one of its extremities as rounded and
contused, not seen if instrument is quite thin.
The direction of the surface defect may be useful in the determination of the
possible relative position of the offender and the victim when the wound was
inflicted.
As to whether the wound is slit-like or gaping depends on the direction of the
wound to the Langers line.
The depth of the wound may be influence by:
1. size and sharpness of the instrument.
2. area of the body involved
3. the degree of force applied
Hemorrhage is always the most serious consequence of stab wound due to
the severance of blood vessels or involvement of bloody organs.

How to describe stab wound:

1. length of the skin defect edges must be coaptated first
Tailing the direction of withdrawal of the wounding
weapon.
2. condition of the extremities
= sharp extremity > sharpness of the instrument used.
= If Both extremity are sharp > double bladed weapon is
used.
3. condition of the edges.
= edges are regular and clean cut> due to one stabbing
act.
= serrated or zigzag in appearance > several stabbing
wounds
( series of thrust and withdrawal.)
4. linear direction of the wound it may be running vertically, horizontally,
or upward medially or laterally.
5. location of the stab wound to include exact measurement from
anatomical landmarks.
6. direction of the penetration must be tridimentional
7. depth of the penetration
8. tissue and organs involved

Stab wounds may be:

A.Suicidal
1. Located over vital parts of the
body.
2. Usually solitary
3. Located over covered parts of the body,
the clothing
is not involved
4. Stab wound is accessible to the hand of
the victim
5. Hand of victim is smeared with blood
6. Wounding weapon is firmly grasp by the
hand of the
victim.
7. If stabbing is accompanied with
slashing movement
> the wound tailing abrasion is seen
towards the
hand inflict the injury.
8. Suicide not may be present
9. Presence of a motive for self
destruction.
10. No disturbance in the death scene with
wounding
instrument found near
the victim.
B. Homicidal stabbing with homicidal intent is
the most
common
Characteristics:1. Injuries other than stab wound
may be
present .
2. Stab wound may be located in
any part of
the body.
3. Usually more than one stab
wound
4. A motive for stabbing, if none
then the
offender
either insane/drugs
5. Disturbance in the crime
scene

Characteristics:
1. The opening of the skin is very small, wound is much deeper
than it is wide.
2. External hemorrhage is limited than internally may be severe.
3. Sealing of external opening is favorable for the growth and
multiplication of anaerobic organism like bacillus tetani.
Homicidal multiple and usually located in different parts of the body.
wound are deep
there are defense wounds on the victim.
signs of struggle in the crime scene.

1.

located in areas of the body where the vital organs are

located.
usually singular, if multiple located in one area.
parts of body involved is accessible by the hand of the victim.
clothing usually not involved.
wounding is made while the victim is in sitting or standing
position , bleeding is towards the lower part of the body or
clothing.
no disturbance in the crime scene.
wounding instrument found near the body.

Suicidal 2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Puncturing wound with puncturing instrument loaded with poison:

1. poison dart cyanide or nicotine
2. fish spines
3. dog bites with hydrophobia virus
4. injection of air and poison as a way of euthanasia.
5.LACERATED WOUNDS ( TEAR, RUPTURE, STRETCH PUTOK)
-

Medical evidence showing the intent of the

offender to kill the victim:
1. there are more than one stab wounds
2. stab wounds located in different parts of the
body
3. stab wounds are deep
4. serrated stab wounds means thrust and
withdrawal of the wounding weapon to
increase internal damages.
5. irregular or stellate shape skin defects> due
to changing direction of the weapon with the
portion of the instrument at the level of the
skin as the lever.

1.
2.
3.
4.

is a tear of the skin and the underlying tissues due to forcible contact
with a blunt instrument.
May be produced by a hit with a piece of wood, iron bar, fist, stone,
butt.
If the force is applied to a tissue is greater than its cohesive force and
elasticity> the tissue tears and a laceration is produced.

Characteristic:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

4. PUNCTURED WOUND
of a sharp
instrument.

- is the result of a thrust

pointed

= External injury is quite small but the depth is to a

certain degree.; ice-pick, nail
- Nature of the external injury depends on the
sharpness of the end of the wounding instrument:
= contusion of the edges> if end is not sharp
= opening may be> round, elliptical, diamond
shaped or
cruciate.
- External hemorrhage is limited although internal
injuries may be severe.> blood vessels and bloody
organs is fatal if no intervention applied.
- Site of external wound can be easily sealed by dried
bld, serum, or clotted bld.
- Punctured wounds are usually accidental

shape and size of the injury does not correspond to the

wounding instrument
tear on the skin is rugged with extremities irregular, ill-defined.
injury developed where the blunt force is applied.
borders of the wound are contused and swollen.
developed in areas where the bone is superficially located.like
scalp.
examination with the aid of hand lens shows bridging tissue
joining the edges and hairs bulbs are intact.
bleeding is not extensive due to blood vessels are not
severed evenly.
healing process is delayed and has a tendency to develop a
scar.

Classification of lacerated wounds:

1.

Splitting caused by crushing of the skin between two hard objects.

Ex: laceration of scalp hit by a bunt instrument, cut eyebrow of a boxer.

2. Overstretching of the skin

When pressure is applied on one side of the bone> the skin over the
area will be stretched up to a breaking point to cause laceration and
exposure of the fractured bone.
In avulsion: the edges of the remaining tissue is that of laceration.
3. Grinding compression
the weight and the grinding movement may cause separation of the
skin with the underlying tissues.
4. Tearing
- this may be produced by a semi-sharped edged instrument
causes irregular edges on the wound like hatchet and choppers.

which

Lacerated wounds are rarely suicidal.

= includes rifles, muskets, shotguns, revolvers, pistols, other deadly weapons

which a bullet, ball, shell or other missile may be discharged by means of
gunpowder or other explosives.
= includes air rifle except of small calibers and limited range.

INCISED WOUNDS

LACERATED

WOUNDS
Edges are clean cut, regular, well defined
irregular, ill-defined

edges are roughly cut,

No contusion or swelling around the

around the
Incised wounds

swelling and contusion

Extremities of the wound are sharp, may be

and irregular
Round, or contused

lacerated wounds
extremities are ill-defined

Examination by means of a hand lens

Shows that hair bulbs are cut

hair bulbs are preserved

Healing is faster

healing is delayed

Caused by sharp edged instrument

instrument

caused by a blunt

POSSIBLE INSTRUMENTS WHEN USED BY THE

ASSAILANT IN INFLICTING THE INJURIES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

contusion blunt
incised wound sharp-edged instrument
lacerated wounds- blunt
punctured wounds sharp pointed
abrasion body surface is rubbed on a hard
surface
GSW the diameter of the wound of
entrance may approximate the caliber of the
wounding instrument.

Could the injury have been inflicted by a special

weapon?
A physician cant determine that a specific
weapon was used in inflicting a wound.
It is possible that it is caused by a certain
instrument presented.
He must be cautious in giving categoric
statements
Which of the injuries sustained by the victim
caused death?
If with conspiracy no need coz the act of one is the
act of all.
If none- offenders are only responsible for their
individual acts.
If multiple injuries: which of the wound injured a vital
organ.
Or if same organ which caused the degree of
damage.
GUNSHOT WOUNDS
Death or physical injuries brought about by
powdered propelled substances:
1. Firearm shot
= the injury is caused by the missile
propelled by the
explosion of the gunpowder
located in the cartridge
shell and the rear of
the missile.
2.
cause

detonation of high explosives - grenades

= explosion inside the metallic container will
fragmentation of the container.

I. FIREARM WOUND
= Firearm : is an instrument used for the propulsion
of a projectile by the expansive force of gasses coming
from the burning of gunpowder.
(technical definition)

= the barrel of any firearm shall be considered as a complete firearm for all
purposes thereof.