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STANAG 2920

Definition

NATO Standardization Agreement 2920, defining the fragmentation injury threshold for ballistic protection standards. Relevant in blast forensic pathology for relating fragment mass and velocity (inferred from wound tracks) to injury severity and device design.

Related terms

Blast Lung Injury
Bilateral pulmonary contusion and alveolar tear from primary blast overpressure. The most lethal primary blast mechanism. Characterised at autopsy by bilateral 'butterfly'...
Primary Blast Injury
Injury caused directly by the overpressure (blast) wave. Preferentially affects gas-containing organs (lungs, tympanic membranes, bowel). Blast lung (alveolar haemorrhage, barotrauma) is...
Quaternary Blast Injury
All blast-related injury not in primary/secondary/tertiary classes: burns (flash fireball + secondary fire), crush (structural collapse), and inhalation injury (CO, HCN, particulate)....
Secondary Blast Injury
Penetrating injury from fragments: device casing metal, pre-formed projectiles (nails, bolts, BBs), or environmental debris accelerated by the blast wave. The most...
Tertiary Blast Injury
Blunt-force injury caused by physical displacement of the victim's body by the blast wind, followed by impact against surfaces. Morphologically identical to...
Tympanic Membrane Perforation (TMP)
Rupture of the eardrum by blast overpressure, occurring at 35-103 kPa, well below the threshold for blast lung injury. The most sensitive...

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