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An injury that is caused by an object piercing the skin or body tissue is referred to as penetrating trauma. The degree of the injury is primarily based on the mass and speed of the object striking the victim. High-velocity objects typically consist of projectiles such as bullets shot from assault or sniper rifles. Handguns, shotguns, and submachine guns produce medium-velocity bullets. Low-velocity materials (e.g., knives) are normally thrust by a person's hand and only damage the area that they come in direct contact with.
Aside from the ability to puncture human flesh upon contact, medium and high-velocity items also can cause a cavitation injury. In short, this means that an object creates a concentrated spiral of pressure that pushes tissue away from the piercing. This phenomenon opens up a gap that is much larger than the circumference of the projectile. The displaced tissue eventually settles back into its original position, but not before significant harm has been done. Cavitation is especially dangerous, even deadly, when it impacts brain tissue.
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