In terminal ballistics, the concept of 'temporary cavity' versus 'permanent cavity' is crucial to understanding wound severity. The temporary cavity is MOST significant in which type of projectile?

• A Low-velocity pistol bullets (<300 m/s)
• B Shotgun pellets at close range
• C Rubber bullets used for crowd control
• D High-velocity rifle bullets (>600 m/s) ✓

Explanation

The temporary cavity is a transient radial stretch of tissue around the bullet's path caused by energy transfer during passage. It is proportional to the square of the bullet's velocity (KE = ½mv²). High-velocity rifle bullets (>600 m/s, military and hunting rifles) create massive temporary cavities that can be several times the bullet's diameter, causing extensive tissue destruction well beyond the permanent bullet track. Low-velocity handgun bullets produce negligible temporary cavitation; their wound severity depends primarily on the permanent cavity size.

Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (Narayan Reddy), 34th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.