[Morphologic peculiarities in gunshot injuries of the aorta]

The characteristic appearance of gunshot injuries to the aorta is presented on the basis of 5 autopsy cases. (1) In sections showing no atherosclerotic changes, projectiles from hand weapons and from .22 calibre rimfire rifles leave remarkably small holes (comparable to the orifices of the intercostal arteries); in areas with sclerotic plaques the bullet holes are considerably larger. (2) Tears of several millimetres in length radiate from the entrance and exit perforations, so that the lesions may appear as stellate lacerations. The configuration of ante-mortem injuries was reproducible in test shots on aortas removed post mortem. The morphological findings can be explained by the ballistic wound response of elastic tissues.