Injuries and wounds: tight contact gunshot over soft tissue: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Injuries and wounds: tight contact gunshot over soft tissue

Sample item

A pistol is pressed firmly against the skin of the abdomen and fired. Where are the soot and unburnt powder mainly found?

ADeep in the wound track, with little on the surrounding skinBIn a broad halo of tattooing around the wound edgeCOnly on the clothing, with a clean trackDScattered over the skin 15 to 30 cm from the wound

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Deep in the wound track, with little on the surrounding skin

In a tight contact wound the muzzle seals the skin, and the gases, soot and powder enter the wound track. The skin edges may be burnt and a muzzle imprint may be seen, but there is little blackening or tattooing on the surrounding skin. Tattooing and a halo of soot appear when the weapon is fired from a short distance.

Option by option

A. Deep in the wound track, with little on the surrounding skin (correct)
Correct. Gas and soot are driven into the track when the muzzle is held against the skin.
B. In a broad halo of tattooing around the wound edge
A halo of tattooing is typical of shots fired from a short distance, not tight contact.
C. Only on the clothing, with a clean track
Clothing deposits do not replace the track deposits in a tight contact shot.
D. Scattered over the skin 15 to 30 cm from the wound
Dispersion over 15 to 30 cm is not seen when the muzzle seals the skin.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Deep in the wound track, with little on the surrounding skin. In a tight contact wound the muzzle seals the skin, and the gases, soot and powder enter the wound track.

Why is "In a broad halo of tattooing around the wound edge" not the answer?

A halo of tattooing is typical of shots fired from a short distance, not tight contact.

Why is "Only on the clothing, with a clean track" not the answer?

Clothing deposits do not replace the track deposits in a tight contact shot.

Why is "Scattered over the skin 15 to 30 cm from the wound" not the answer?

Dispersion over 15 to 30 cm is not seen when the muzzle seals the skin.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Injuries and wounds: tight contact gunshot over soft tissue in Forensic Medicine. The skin edges may be burnt and a muzzle imprint may be seen, but there is little blackening or tattooing on the surrounding skin. Tattooing and a halo of soot appear when the weapon is fired from a short distance.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Injuries and wounds: tight contact gunshot over soft tissue?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.