Morphological features of stab–cut wounds of the skin of the trunk and limbs inflicted by kitchen knives

Abstract

Examination of injuries caused by sharp objects is a complex process that requires the application of a whole range of knowledge not only in the field of forensic medicine, but also in human anatomy. Among all sharp objects, stab–cut objects are the most common, namely the kitchen knife. Researching the peculiarities of the morphology of injuries to various anatomical parts of the human body with this subject would improve the quality of forensic research. The purpose of the study is to analyze the morphological features of stab–cut wounds to the skin of the trunk and limbs caused by kitchen knives. A forensic examination of 93 stab–cut wounds of corpses, which were inflicted by kitchen knives with one-sided sharpening and a straight butt, was carried out. Wounds in the chest ranged in size from 1.7×0.2 cm to 4.3×0.6 cm; wounds in the abdomen ranged in size from 1.8×0.4 cm to 3.3×0.7 cm; wounds in the lumbar region had sizes from 1.7×0.2 cm to 4.0×0.6 cm; wounds on the upper extremities – from 1.5x0.9 cm to 3.0×0.6 cm and wounds on the lower extremities from 1.5x0.2 cm to 3.2x0.6 cm. In all cases, the wounds had even edges and a smooth surface of the walls. Wounds located along Langer's line have a linear shape, and those located across Langer's lines have an oval shape. In addition, a different shape of the butt section was found, depending on the localization and the force of immersion. In this way, characteristic differences in the shape of the butt cut were revealed and the existence of differences in its morphology in different anatomical parts of the body was proved. Taking into account the location of the injury according to the location of Langer's lines should be standard procedure in forensic investigations of injuries caused by sharp objects.