Question 1

Projectile trauma has such distinct wounding characteristics it deserves a category of its own.

Accepted Answer

Projectile trauma refers to injuries caused by objects or projectiles that are shot, projected, or thrown at high speeds. These injuries have unique characteristics dependent on the velocity, size, shape, and composition of the projectile, as well as the location and angle of impact on the body. Because of these distinctive characteristics, projectile trauma is classified as a separate category of injury within the broader field of trauma medicine.

Question 2

Which of the following terms refers to the size of a projectile?
A) Caliber
B) Gauge
C) Rifling
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Caliber refers to the size of a projectile, typically referring to the diameter of a bullet or the internal diameter of a firearm barrel. Gauge is a term used specifically for shotguns to designate the size of the bore. Rifling refers to the spiral grooves within a firearm barrel that cause the bullet to spin and stabilize in flight, but it does not refer to the size of the projectile itself. Therefore, the correct answer is A) Caliber.

Question 3

Which of the following calibers is the largest diameter of a bullet?
A) 0.22
B) .30-'06
C) 9 mm
D) 0.45

Accepted Answer

0.45 caliber is the largest diameter of a bullet among the given options.

Question 4

Which of the following projectiles cause the most damage when impacting the human body?
A) Hollow-points
B) Bullets with full-metal jacket
C) Semi-jacketed bullets
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Hollow-points expand upon impact, transferring more energy to the target and causing a larger wound channel than other types of bullets. This can lead to more severe and potentially fatal injuries.

Question 5

Which of the following basic concepts of ammunition and firearms needs to be understood by forensic anthropologists?
A) Size
B) Bullet construction
C) Projectile velocity
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Forensic anthropologists need to understand all three basic concepts of ammunition and firearms - size, bullet construction, and projectile velocity - in order to accurately analyze and interpret the forensic evidence. This knowledge is essential for identifying the firearm used in a crime and linking it to a suspect, as well as determining the distance of the shooter from the victim and the manner of death.

Question 6

Which of the following is a characteristic of a projectile exit wound in bone?
A) Inward beveling
B) Outward beveling
C) Round shape
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Projectile exit wounds in bone typically cause outward beveling of the bone due to the pressure buildup inside of the bone when the projectile exits. Inward beveling is a characteristic of entrance wounds. A round shape is not necessarily a characteristic of exit wounds in bone.

Question 7

Which of the following is a characteristic of a projectile entrance wound in bone?
A) Inward beveling
B) Oval shape
C) Round shape
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Projectile entrance wounds in bone can have inward beveling, oval shape, or round shape depending on the angle and trajectory of the projectile. Therefore, all of the above options are characteristics of a projectile entrance wound in bone.

Question 8

Which of the following is a characteristic of a wound to bone caused by a grazing bullet?
A) Oval shape
B) Outward beveling
C) Keyhole shape
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

A wound to bone caused by a grazing bullet typically has a keyhole shape, where the entrance wound is smaller than the exit wound and there is a long, narrow tunnel in the bone. Oval shape and outward beveling are characteristic of entrance and exit wounds of a bullet that passes straight through the bone.

Question 9

Which of the following bullet sizes would cause an entrance wound smaller than that caused by a 0.22 caliber bullet?
A) 0.22
B) 0.25
C) 0.38
D) 0.44

Accepted Answer

A larger bullet size will generally cause a larger entrance wound. Therefore, choices C and D can be eliminated as they are both larger than the 0.22 caliber bullet. Choice A is the same size as the 0.22 caliber bullet, so it would not cause a smaller entrance wound. Choice B, 0.25 caliber, is slightly larger than the 0.22 caliber bullet, but still smaller than the options C and D. Therefore, it is the best choice for causing a smaller entrance wound.

Question 10

Which of the following fracture lines is likely to occur in a skull?
A) Butterfly
B) Radiating
C) Irregular
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following fracture lines is...

Question 11

A butterfly fracture is most likely to appear on which of the following bones?
A) Skull
B) Femur
C) Vertebrae
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

A butterfly fracture is a fracture that occurs in the center of a long bone, resulting in a triangular shape resembling a butterfly on X-ray. The femur is a long bone and is therefore the most likely bone to experience a butterfly fracture. Skull and vertebrae fractures are not typically referred to as butterfly fractures.

Question 12

Which of the following sizes is most likely caused by a 0.22 caliber bullet?
A) 0.27
B) 0.26
C) 0.34
D) 0.43

Accepted Answer

A 0.22 caliber bullet typically has a diameter of approximately 0.22 inches, so a size closest to 0.22, such as 0.27, is most likely caused by a 0.22 caliber bullet.

Question 13

Which of the following characteristics of a wound indicates that the causative projectile was probably jacketed?
A) Shattered bone
B) Irregular exit wound
C) Circular exit wound
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

A circular exit wound is more indicative of a jacketed projectile, as the jacket helps maintain the shape and stability of the bullet, leading to a more uniform exit wound.

Question 14

In cases of multiple projectile wounds, which of the following characteristics of fracture lines from a wound indicates that it was the first wound to occur?
A) Fracture line does not end at another fracture line
B) Fracture line ends at another fracture line
C) Fracture line radiates outward from exit wound
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

If the fracture line does not end at another fracture line, it suggests that it was the first wound to occur since there were no pre-existing fracture lines from other projectiles for the fracture line to end at.

Question 15

Which of the following characteristics of pellet wounds should forensic anthropologists note for use by ballistics experts?
A) Placement of pellets in the body
B) Placement of bone indentations caused by pellets
C) Retrieval of pellets from around the body
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following characteristics of pellet...

Question 16

Which of the following could cause projectile wounds to bone?
A) Arrows
B) Crossbow bolts
C) Tear gas canisters
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

All three options - arrows, crossbow bolts, and tear gas canisters - have the potential to cause projectile wounds to bone. Arrows and crossbow bolts are designed to penetrate targets, including bone, and tear gas canisters can cause injury upon impact with bone.

Question 17

Which of the following types of firearms cause bone trauma that contain the least amount of information?
A) Rifles
B) Hand guns
C) Shotguns
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Shotguns cause bone trauma that contains the least amount of information due to the spread of pellets, which makes it difficult to determine specifics about the firearm used.

Question 18

More than one projectile wound indicates homicide as the only manner of death.

Accepted Answer

While multiple projectile wounds or injuries may increase the likelihood of the manner of death being homicide, it is not the only possible explanation. Suicides and accidental shooting incidents can also result in multiple projectile wounds. Therefore, further investigation is needed to determine the manner of death.

Question 19

There are many pitfalls in the determination of cause and manner of death.

Accepted Answer

Determining cause and manner of death can be complex and subject to errors, misunderstandings, and biases, making it a field where many potential pitfalls exist.

Question 20

Gauge refers to the size of projectiles expelled from firearms.

Accepted Answer

Gauge is a measurement used to describe the bore size of a shotgun, not the size of projectiles expelled from firearms.

Quiz 12: Projectile Trauma

Projectile trauma has such distinct wounding characteristics it deserves a category of its own.

Which of the following terms refers to the size of a projectile?

Which of the following calibers is the largest diameter of a bullet?

Which of the following projectiles cause the most damage when impacting the human body?

Which of the following basic concepts of ammunition and firearms needs to be understood by forensic anthropologists?

Which of the following is a characteristic of a projectile exit wound in bone?

Which of the following is a characteristic of a projectile entrance wound in bone?

Which of the following is a characteristic of a wound to bone caused by a grazing bullet?

Which of the following bullet sizes would cause an entrance wound smaller than that caused by a 0.22 caliber bullet?

Which of the following fracture lines is likely to occur in a skull?

A butterfly fracture is most likely to appear on which of the following bones?

Which of the following sizes is most likely caused by a 0.22 caliber bullet?

Which of the following characteristics of a wound indicates that the causative projectile was probably jacketed?

In cases of multiple projectile wounds, which of the following characteristics of fracture lines from a wound indicates that it was the first wound to occur?

Which of the following characteristics of pellet wounds should forensic anthropologists note for use by ballistics experts?

Which of the following could cause projectile wounds to bone?

Which of the following types of firearms cause bone trauma that contain the least amount of information?

More than one projectile wound indicates homicide as the only manner of death.

There are many pitfalls in the determination of cause and manner of death.

Gauge refers to the size of projectiles expelled from firearms.