The ‘mechanism of wounding’ refers to the physics of wound production, or in other words – how a

wound (vulnus) is produced based physical explanation.

Take note that the body absorbs the natural forces, like gravity movement, routine movements like
sitting and walking by the resilience and elasticity of its soft tissues and rigid skeletal framework. Wound
is due to the result forces which cross the limits of elasticity or resistance.

The following are factors which influence the wounding mechanism:

The amount of force applied which depends on mass of the object and square root of the velocity with
which it is applied.

When a baseball is pressed on the head, it causes no damage. However, if the impact is at minimum
velocity of 10m/sec, it may end up in fracture. Hence, apart from the mass, the velocity is the factor
which plays the major role.

The transfer of the force thru the body. Is a factor which contributes to the wounding power.

If the wounding object such as a 9mm round nosed bullet perforates the human body, the amount of
damage is less as compared to the effect of flat nosed bullet lodging inside the body.

The distribution of force over the surface.

The larger the area of distribution, the lesser the damage. The smaller the area of distribution, the
greater the damage. A pointed knife can cause more damage than blunt weapon with equal amount of
force.

The force acting on the surface of the body subjects the tissue to traction, shear and compression. The
damage depends not only on the type of the mechanical impact but also on the nature of the target
tissue. Blunt instruments tend to cause more damage on the flesh overlying the bone compared to flesh
covering hollow organs such as the intestines.

The movement of the body in the direction of the force adds up to the wounding effect. If the
movement is towards the direction of the force, the damage is minimal. If movement is against the
direction of the force, the damage is extensive. Catching a heavy metal and moving the hands in the
direction of the force will cause less damage rather than using the hands to block the direction of the
moving metal.
The physics of wounding production requires understanding on the following principles:

Wounding formula-1.png

Where: W – wound

Ke – kinetic energy

At - area of transfer

Ot - other factors

Wounding formula-2.png

Where: m – mass

V – velocity

Kinetic energy

This is the energy of moving objects (energy in transit) which is actually the product of the mass and the
square of velocity of moving object. This is the energy of motion, observable as the movement of an
object. Any object in motion is using kinetic energy: a baseball bat being whipped, a falling rock, and a
flying bullet are all examples of kinetic energy at work. This explains why a 5.56mm rifle bullet which has
a speed or 3,200 ft/sec. will do more damage than a 9mm pistol bullet which is heavier but has a much
slower velocity.

Time

The shorter the period of time needed for the transfer of energy, the greater the likelihood of producing
damage. If a person is hit on the body and the body moves towards the direction of the force applied,
the injury is lesser when the body is stationary. The longer the time of contact between the object or
instrument causing the injury, the greater will be the dissipation of energy.

Area of Transfer
The larger the area of contact between the force applied on the body, the lesser is the damage to the
body. By applying an equal force, the damage caused by stabbing is greater compared to a blunt
instrument.

Other Factors

The less elastic and plastic the tissue, the greater the likelihood that a laceration will result. Elasticity and
plasticity refer to the ability of a tissue to return to its “normal” size and shape after being deformed by
a pressure. The movement of the parts of the body as a result of the force being applied to them and
the local stretching of tissue during acceleration and deceleration cause most of the internal injuries
seen in traumatized individuals.

A force transmitted thru a tissue containing fluid will force the fluid away from the area of contact in all
directions equally, frequently causing the tissue to lacerate.

MAIN FEATURES OF WOUNDS

A wound is the mechanical damage of the physical body which occurs when the integrity of the covering
tissues (skin or mucus membrane) is destroyed. During this damage, there can destruction of deep
tissues and inner organs (brain, liver, stomach, kidneys). The injury of the covered tissues separates the
wound from other kinds of physical injury. For example: when a trained fighter punches abdominal area
of another person, the liver might be ruptured due to strong kinetic energy although the covering skin
may not be seriously damaged.

The main clinical features of the wounds are pain, bleeding and hiatus. Their development depends on
the localization of the wounds, mechanism of the damage, volume and deepness of the injury, and
common condition of the patient.

PAIN (DOLOR)

Pain is caused by direct damage of the nerves in the wounded region. The pain can be felt not only in
the place of damage but it can spread over the whole region of innervation (other body parts connected
by nerves).

The intensity of pain depends on the following:

Localization of the wound.

Injuries of the big nerves trunks are present.

The character of the weapon and the frequency of causing and wound. (If the weapon is sharp and the
damage of the receptor is less, the pain is less.)

Psychological condition of the organism. Pain can be decreased when the patient is in shock, or under
the influence of alcohol or narcotic drugs. Pain is not felt if body part is under anesthesia and suffering
from a disease such as syringomyelia (he development of a fluid-filled cyst within the spinal cord).

Ordinary pain is a protective reaction of the body, but long and intense pain causes exhaustion of the
central nervous system.

BLEEDING (HAEMORRHAGIA)

Bleeding is a constant feature of the wound because of the damage of the tissue starting from the skin
(or mucus membrane). It is accompanied by the disturbance of the integrity of blood vessels. The
intensity of bleeding can be different – from capillary to arterial bleeding.

Degree of bleeding is determined by:

The presence of damage of big vessels (artery and veins)

Localization of the wound (The most intensive bleeding is injury of the face, head, neck, and manus – the
tissue of these parts of the body has more blood than others.)

The character of the weapon

The condition of local and common hemodynamics. (When the arterial pressure is decreasing or
squeezing the magistral vessel, the intensity of the bleeding decreases.)

The condition of the coagulation system.

CLEFT (HIATUS)
The wound cleft refers to the gap or opening in the skin or mucus membrane. If the cleft or hiatus of the
wound is located in line with Langer’s lines (creases or folds in the skin), then the wound will not bleed
too much and tends to heal easily.