Description
Specimen is a block of chest wall taken from the right upper quadrant to include the nipple. Three
incised stab wounds are present penetrating the skin. The first of these is situated 3.5 cm medial to
the nipple and has a slightly curved upper border. This stab wound is slanted inwards and
downwards measuring 1.1 cm in length. The second wound is present 3 cm lateral and 4 cm
superior to the nipple being situated in the anterior axillary line. This stab wound again did not
penetrate the full thickness of the chest wall. The third puncture wound is also situated in the
anterior axillary line, being 6 cm below the nipple. This wound contains clotted blood. At
postmortem examination it was found that this wound passed just below the 6th rib to enter the
diaphraghm and the anterosuperior aspect of the right lobe of the liver.
History
This 28-year-old man was the victim of an altercation and received a total of 4 stab
wounds. The fourth wound, not represented in this specimen, penetrated the pericardium and aortic
arch. The resultant haemopericardium causing death.