A 14-year-old girl is rushed to the emergency room after receiving a gunshot wound to the head and is pronounced dead on arrival. If this child died due to an immediate “blast effect” of the penetrating wound, the autopsy would likely show herniation of the tonsils of the cerebellum into which anatomic space?
Correct Answer: Foramen magnum
Description: Penetrating wounds produce hemorrhage and blast effects. The "blast effect" of a high-velocity projectile causes an immediate increase in supratentorial pressure and results in death because of impaction of the cerebellum and medulla into the foramen magnum. A low-velocity projectile increases the pressure at a more gradual rate through hemorrhage and edema. The other choices do not represent areas of herniation.Diagnosis: Bullet wound
Category:
Pathology
Get More
Subject Mock Tests
Practice with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects and improve your knowledge.
Attempt a mock test nowMock Exam
Take an exam with 100 random questions selected from all subjects to test your knowledge.
Coming SoonGet More
Subject Mock Tests
Try practicing mock tests with over 200,000 questions from various medical subjects.
Attempt a mock test now