Excision and Histology
Definition
Post-mortem removal of the skin bearing a bite mark, followed by microscopic examination of the wound layers. Histology can confirm the patterned injury is a bite and help estimate the timing of the injury relative to death.
- Procedure
- Post-mortem removal of skin bearing a bite mark
- Follow-up
- Microscopic examination of the wound layers
- Uses
- Confirms patterned injury is a bite, estimates injury timing
- Context
- Bite mark analysis in abuse and neglect casework
Common questions
Why is excision only done post-mortem rather than on a living victim?+
Removing skin is destructive to the wound and the surrounding tissue, so it is reserved for cases where the subject has died and further non-destructive examination and healing are no longer relevant considerations.
What does histology add beyond photographing the bite mark?+
Microscopic examination of the wound layers can show vital reaction, such as hemorrhage or inflammation, which helps distinguish a bite inflicted before death from one inflicted after, information a surface photograph alone cannot provide.
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- Patterned Injury
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