Skin tears away from the entrance wound in gunshots to the head

Abstract

The present investigation covers 116 contact shots to the head and shots into the mouth from the Freiburg forensic autopsy material including 20 gunshot wounds which showed stretchmark-like tears of the facial skin away from the entrance wound. In these cases the gunshot entrance wounds were localised either in the mouth, the forehead, or the submental region. The stretchmark-like tears were found in the region of the eyes and the nasolabial folds. Radial tears were seen on the lips and in the vicinity of the corners of the mouth, particularly in cases involving shots into the mouth. The stretchmark-like tears essentially followed the skin tension lines and the expression-related lines of the face. They were apparently caused by the subcutaneous or intraoral expansion of the muzzle gases and/or the radial forces of the bullet resulting in ballooning and overextension of the facial soft tissues. The weapons used were not only rifles and shotguns, but also revolvers and pistols.