In a contact gunshot wound to the head, the entry wound shows cruciate laceration and 'muzzle imprint' bruising. Which combination of factors explains the cruciate (cross-shaped) tearing specifically?

• A Hot expanding gases from the muzzle enter the wound track in a contact fire, expand under tight skin, and split it along lines of minimal resistance creating star-shaped or cruciate tears ✓
• B Rapid exit of gases from the muzzle forcibly expanding the skull via the skull sutures
• C The bullet's spin (rifling) causes rotation-related tearing in a plus-sign pattern
• D Backspatter from the skull creates cruciate indentations around the wound

Explanation

In a hard contact gunshot wound, the muzzle is pressed firmly against the skin. All propellant gases enter the wound track together with the bullet. As the bullet enters and gases follow, they expand rapidly in the closed space beneath the skin and within the scalp, creating a temporary balloon of gas. This gas — constrained by the tight scalp — tears the skin from within in a cruciate, stellate, or irregular lacerated pattern around the entry wound. The muzzle imprint (contusion ring matching the barrel/front sight shape) results from the explosive recoil of the weapon against the pressed skin.

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.