الفهرس 
Basic gunshot terminologyOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
It is well known that firearm injuries are an important cause of
morbidity and mortality.
Analysis and interpretation of fatal gunshot wounds is an important
and common practice among forensic pathologists.
One of the most important duties of the forensic pathologist is to
differentiate inlet from exit (if present) gunshot wounds, determines range
of firing, and the possible cause and mechanism of death.
The correct interpretation of gunshot wounds by forensic
pathologists not only provides valuable information that can assist law
enforcement in their investigation but also is essential for the final
determination of manner of death.
Depending on the range from the muzzle to the target, gunshot
wounds can be divided into four categories: contact, near contact,
intermediate and distant.
In gunshot fatalities, a reconstruction of the events can be possible
on the basis of a variety of autopsy and scene findings.
There are certain histopathological changes accompanied with
firearm injuries that can contribute in their identification, determination
of inlets, exits, and range of firing.
Histopathological changes of gunshot injury are mainly duo to heat
and mechanical trauma caused by the projectiles.
SUMMARY & CONCLUSION
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The histopathological changes of gunshot injuries are classified as
epithelial, collagenous and power residue changes.
The epithelial histopathological changes are ranged from little
alteration at the periphery, through varying degrees of cellular distortion
and disruption, to total epithelial destruction and absence at the center of
the gunshot wounds.
The collagenous histopathological changes are ranged from
changes in the tinctorial properties to fusion and homogenization
(Coagulation) of the collagen.
The presence of gunpowder particles in the entrance wounds is
helpful in differentiating these wounds from the exit wounds. The powder
residue (PR) may also help in making an estimate of the range of firing.
This study was designed to examine these histopathological
changes and its importance in some gunshot injuries.
This study was conducted on 60 cadavers of gunshot wounds
received by Zenhum Morgue, in the period from January 2005 to October
2006.
All cadavers were underwent autopsy according to the autopsy
standards and sampling of inlets and exits with a safety margin were
collected, fixed, and microscopically examined and photographed.
The results of this study revealed that:
1. Males are affected more commonly than females.
2. The manner of death was mostly homicides, then suicides and
accidental.
3. The most common age group affected were the middle age group.
SUMMARY & CONCLUSION
144
4. Suicides were common in older persons in comparison to
homicides.
5. Home made guns were the most common implement used.
6. Summer was the most common season in the studied cases.
7. Oblique direction was the most common in homicidal cases while
perpendicular direction was the most common in suicides.
8. Hard contact was the most common in suicides while far firing was
the most common in homicides.
9. Revenge represented the most common motivation in homicidal
cases while psychic and financial problems are the most common
motivations in suicides.
10.Histopathological findings were typical for those known in similar
cases.
In conclusion, there is an epidemic of gunshot wound fatalities
nationwide. Interpretation and investigation of these deaths require will
trained forensic pathologists.
Firearm injuries must be examined collectively, beginning from
history taking of the event, reviewing police reports, examination of the
scene (although retrospectively done) and clinical examination during
autopsy procedures.
Histopathological examination play a confirmatory role to the
clinical findings, or it may play a crucial role when the clinical
presentation is atypical or clinical data are not evident.
Histopathological examination gives valuable information to
identify antemortem gunshot injuries, differentiate between inlet and exit
wounds and rough estimation of the distance of firing.
SUMMARY & CONCLUSION
145
The distinction between homicide, suicide and accident can
sometimes be extremely difficult and a final conclusion can only be
reached after a full police investigation. Multiple firearm wounds, on the
other hand, strongly suggest homicide.