Which wound is usually larger and more serious?

• A. Entry wound
• B. Exit wound
• C. Laceration
• D. Abrasion

Answer: (B)

In firearm injuries, the amount of tissue damage follows how the bullet’s energy is spent as it travels. The entry wound is often relatively small because the skin is punctured by the bullet with minimal tearing at first. As the bullet moves through the body, it can yaw, fragment, or strike bone, creating a larger temporary cavity and tearing surrounding tissues. When the projectile exits, that disruption is typically even greater, yielding a larger, more ragged exit wound and potentially more damage to internal organs and vessels. Lacerations and abrasions describe different kinds of blunt or superficial damage, not the penetrating wound pattern seen with bullets. So the exit wound is usually larger and more serious.