Injuries: firearm ballistics: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Injuries: firearm ballistics

Sample item

A bullet recovered at autopsy shows spiral striations on its surface. This feature results from which part of the weapon?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Lands and grooves of a rifled barrel

A rifled barrel has raised lands and grooves that spin the bullet. The lands engrave striations on the bullet that are characteristic of that weapon, and a comparison microscope matches them with test-fired bullets. Smooth-bore guns such as shotguns fire multiple pellets and leave no such marks.

Option by option

  • A. Lands and grooves of a rifled barrel (correct)

    Rifling marks come from lands and grooves engraving the bullet.

  • B. The firing pin only

    The firing pin leaves an impression on the cartridge primer, not on the bullet.

  • C. The cartridge case rim

    The rim marks the case, not the projectile.

  • D. A smooth-bore barrel

    A smooth bore has no rifling to engrave striations.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is A, Lands and grooves of a rifled barrel. A rifled barrel has raised lands and grooves that spin the bullet.

Why is "The firing pin only" not the answer?

The firing pin leaves an impression on the cartridge primer, not on the bullet.

Why is "The cartridge case rim" not the answer?

The rim marks the case, not the projectile.

Why is "A smooth-bore barrel" not the answer?

A smooth bore has no rifling to engrave striations.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Injuries: firearm ballistics in Forensic Medicine. The lands engrave striations on the bullet that are characteristic of that weapon, and a comparison microscope matches them with test-fired bullets. Smooth-bore guns such as shotguns fire multiple pellets and leave no such marks.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Injuries: firearm ballistics?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.