title: [Morphologic and morphometric aspects of contusion ring ("abrasion seam") of gunshot wounds].
abstract: Test shots (cartridges .22 lr and 9 mm Parabellum) were fired on skin preparations taken from the lumbar region. As anticipated, with caliber .22 the outer diameter and the area of the abrasion ring were smaller than with the 9 mm caliber. This was true of both orthograde and inclined angle shots. In the case of vertical projectile impact, the outer diameter of the epidermis-free area was either smaller or only slightly larger than the cross-section of the projectile. The area of the abrasion ring exceeded the area of the entrance hole in the proportion of 3:1 (.22 lr) and 2.45:1 (9 mm Para), respectively. The epidermis bordering immediately on the abrasion ring was lifted off, with irregular and torn-in edges. Progressive drying up of this border zone simulated a time-dependent increase of the abrasion ring. If the bullet penetrated at an oblique angle, the eccentrically enlarged drying-up collar (on the side from which the bullet came) showed a tongue-shaped area of unaffected epidermis with an intact stratum corneum. This phenomenon can be explained by the wound-ballistic behaviour of the skin in inclined angle shots. Skin covered with a layer of water showed no abrasion collar around the entrance hole.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität Freiburg/Br.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pollak
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ropohl
mesh_terms: D005389:Firearms; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology*
vernacular_title: Morphologische und morphometrische Aspekte des Kontusionsringes ("Schürfsaumes") an Einschusswunden.