title: Body models in forensic ballistics: reconstruction of a gunshot injury to the chest by bullet fragmentation after shooting through a finger.
abstract: Forensic science uses substitutes to reconstruct injury patterns in order to answer questions regarding the dynamic formation of unusual injuries. Using a case study, an experimental simulation of a finger was designed, for the first time with a combination of hard wood and glycerin soap. With this model as an intermediate target simulation, it was possible not only to demonstrate the "bullet-body (finger) interaction", but also to recreate the wound pattern found in the victim. This case demonstrates that by using ballistic models and body-part substitutes, gunshot cases can be reproduced simply and economically, without coming into conflict with ethical guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Berne, Buehlstrasse 20, CH-3012 Berne, Switzerland. michael.thali@irm.unibe.ch
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Thali
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Kneubuehl
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dirnhofer
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Zollinger
mesh_terms: D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005554:Forensic Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D011859:Radiography; D013898:Thoracic Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging