Wound Assessment and Injury Documentation Flashcards
7 cards from real CFN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Wound Assessment and Injury Documentation flashcards as text
What type of wound is characterized by torn, irregular edges caused by blunt force trauma?
Answer: Laceration
Lacerations have irregular, torn edges resulting from blunt force stretching tissue beyond its elastic limits, unlike the clean edges of incised wounds.
Which color change sequence is generally observed as a bruise heals over time?
Answer: Red/Blue-Purple → Green → Yellow/Brown
Bruises progress from red/blue-purple when fresh to green then yellow/brown as hemoglobin breaks down into biliverdin and bilirubin.
Which wound type is MOST commonly associated with defensive injuries on the upper extremities?
Answer: Blunt force contusions
Contusions on the forearms and hands are classic defensive wounds when a victim raises their arms to block blows directed at the head or torso.
What is the MOST reliable method for documenting wound size in forensic practice?
Answer: Photography with an ABFO No. 2 scale ruler
Photography with a standardized ABFO No. 2 ruler provides objective, reproducible wound size documentation that is admissible in court proceedings.
A patterned injury that mirrors the shape of the weapon or object used is BEST described as:
Answer: Imprint contusion
An imprint (patterned) contusion reproduces the shape of the causative object — such as a belt buckle or cord pattern — within the bruised tissue.
When using an alternate light source (ALS) for injury detection, what wavelength range is MOST commonly used?
Answer: 415–450 nm (violet/blue)
Violet/blue wavelengths (415–450 nm) cause fluorescence of biological fluids and can reveal injuries not visible to the naked eye under standard lighting.
In forensic injury documentation, which characteristic of a bruise is LEAST reliable for dating the injury?
Answer: Color
Bruise color is highly unreliable for dating injuries because color progression varies significantly based on skin tone, depth, age, and individual physiology.