The displacement of tissue away from the path of a projectile is known as what?

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Multiple Choice

The displacement of tissue away from the path of a projectile is known as what?

Cavitation is the displacement of tissue away from the projectile’s path as energy from the projectile is deposited into the tissues. This rapid energy transfer creates a temporary cavity that can be much larger than the bullet track, causing extensive damage beyond the actual wound path. The wound left along the path is the permanent cavity, but the surrounding tissue is stretched and displaced outward by cavitation. This distinguishes cavitation from contusion (a bruise from blunt impact) and crepitation (a crackling sound or feel from air or emphysema), and from conization, which is unrelated to ballistic injury.

Cavitation is the displacement of tissue away from the projectile’s path as energy from the projectile is deposited into the tissues. This rapid energy transfer creates a temporary cavity that can be much larger than the bullet track, causing extensive damage beyond the actual wound path. The wound left along the path is the permanent cavity, but the surrounding tissue is stretched and displaced outward by cavitation. This distinguishes cavitation from contusion (a bruise from blunt impact) and crepitation (a crackling sound or feel from air or emphysema), and from conization, which is unrelated to ballistic injury.

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