Skip to main content

Distant range stellate entrance wound on the lip. Distant gunshot wounds of the head may have a stellate or irregular appearance simulating a contact wound. This phenomenon is seen with both handgun and rifle bullets. It is most common over bony prominence such as the orbital ridges. This phenomenon can be seen in other areas of the head as well, e.g., at the hairline, between the eyebrows, over the cheekbone, along the edge of the mandible, and on the top and on the back of the head. These wounds may be incorrectly interpreted as contact wounds or exits.

Fig.1 Stellate entrance wound on the lip.

Latest posts

Couple murdered in their new Santa Barbara home

| Gunshot, Homicide | No Comments
On May 2, 2009, at approximately 1:30 in the morning, attorneys Barbara Scharton and Daniel Lyons, were murdered…
Fig.1 Shotgun suicide.

Shotgun suicide

| Gunshot, Suicide | No Comments
This individual committed suicide using a shotgun, no further info. The head is the most common location for…
Fig.2 Skin slippage and expansion of the scrotum due to gas accumulation.

Scrotal enlargement from gas formation

| Decomposition | No Comments
There are five stages of decomposition, namely fresh, bloated, active decay, advanced decay, and skeletal stage. These stages…
Fig.1 Nitrous oxide death.

Nitrous oxide death

| Accident, Asphyxiation, Suicide | No Comments
Spain. There was no info if this was a suicide or an accident. Nitrous oxide is an inflammable…