THE NATURE AND EFFECT OF SHARP FORCE WOUNDS ARE EXAMINED WITH ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS OF POSTMORTEM EXAMINATIONS: (1) IDENTIFYING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WEAPON; (2) ESTIMATING THE AMOUNT OF FORCE USED TO INFLICT THE WOUNDS; AND (3) DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN ACCIDENTAL, SELF-INFLICTED, AND HOMICIDAL WOUNDS. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF HEAD, NECK, TRUNK, AND APPENDAGE WOUNDS CAUSED BY KNIVES, AXES, CLEAVERS, ICE PICKS, RAZOR BLADES, AND OTHER SHARP INSTRUMENTS ARE GRAPHICALLY ILLUSTRATED USING THE BODIES OF SUICIDE, ACCIDENT, AND MURDER VICTIMS. PECULIAR WOUNDS (E.G., MULTIPLE ENTRANCE AND EXIT WOUNDS) ARE DISCUSSED, ALONG WITH WOUNDS CAUSED BY UNUSUAL WEAPONS, SUCH AS BROKEN BOTTLES OR RADIO ANTENNAS. DEATHS CAUSED BY COMPLICATIONS (E.G., INFECTIONS) RESULTING FROM NONFATAL WOUNDS ARE ALSO EXAMINED, AS ARE CASES INVOLVING SEXUAL MUTILATION. (KBL)