HOSA Crime Scene and Death Investigation Practice Test

Mechanical trauma refers to physical injuries caused by mechanical forces, which can include impacts, cuts, or abrasions. Options that fall under mechanical trauma include incised wounds, blunt force injuries, and sharp force injuries.

Incised wounds are cuts produced by a sharp object, blunt force trauma is caused by a non-sharp object delivering a forceful impact on the body, and sharp force injuries involve deep lacerations or stabs from sharp implements. All of these types are associated with direct physical interactions that disrupt tissues.

In contrast, thermal injury is related to damage caused by extreme temperatures, whether from heat or cold, and does not arise from mechanical forces. This distinction is crucial in forensic science, as it helps categorize the nature of injuries encountered in death investigations. The classification of injuries into mechanical versus other categories, like thermal, is important for understanding the mechanisms behind injuries and their implications in a forensic context.