A contact gunshot wound to the temple shows an oval entry wound with a torn, stellate lacerated margin, muzzle contusion ring around the wound, and soot within the wound canal. The stellate tearing is caused primarily by:

• A Expansion of hot propellant gases entering the wound canal and splitting the skin outward as they expand ✓
• B The bullet rotating at high velocity causing spiral tearing of the skin
• C The lead core of the hollow-point bullet mushrooming on contact with bone
• D Vacuum effect pulling skin inward followed by explosive recoil

Explanation

In hard contact (tight contact) gunshot wounds, the muzzle is pressed firmly against the skin, and all propellant gases — including hot compressed gas, soot, and flame — are directed entirely into the wound canal. These gases rapidly expand within the confined subcutaneous space (particularly over bone like the skull), and when the pressure exceeds skin elasticity, the skin tears outward centrifugally producing a characteristic stellate (star-shaped) or cruciate lacerated entry wound. This is NOT seen in intermediate or distant range wounds where gases escape before entering the wound. The stellate pattern with muzzle ring imprint is pathognomonic of hard contact.

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.