title: Penetration and perforation of skin by bullets and missiles. A review of the literature.
abstract: A review of the literature on perforation of skin by bullets and missiles indicates that there is a range of velocity below which a missile cannot perforate the skin. Velocities of between 38.1 and 61.6 meters/second (125 and 202 ft./second) will produce at least minimal damage to the surface of the skin, though without perforation. In order for a missile to perforate the skin and enter the underlying subcutaneous tissue and muscle, a minimum velocity in the order of 70 meters/second (230 ft./second) is necessary with an energy/area of presentation of approximately 2.1 m-kg/cm2.
mesh_terms: D005554:Forensic Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D009132:Muscles / Q000293:injuries; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot