THE NATURE AND EFFECT OF BLUNT FORCE WOUNDS (I.E., NONINCIDENTAL INJURIES INVOLVING LOCALIZED OR GENERALIZED FORCE) ARE EXAMINED WITH ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS OF POSTMORTEM EXAMINATIONS: (1) IDENTIFYING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OBJECT OR FORCE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INJURY; (2) ESTIMATING THE AMOUNT OF FORCE USED TO CAUSE THE INJURY; AND (3) DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN ACCIDENTAL, SUICIDAL, AND HOMICIDAL DEATHS DUE TO SUCH INJURY. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF BLUNT FORCE INJURIES ARE ILLUSTRATED, WITH EMPHASIS ON BLOWS TO THE HEAD, CHEST, AND ABDOMEN INFLICTED MALICIOUSLY OR ACCIDENTLY BY A VARIETY OF INSTRUMENTS, INCLUDING VEHICLES, HAMMERS, AND THE BARE HANDS. THE BODIES OF ACCIDENT, SUICIDE, AND MURDER VICTIMS ARE USED TO DEMONSTRATE THE CLASSIFICATION AND STUDY OF DEATHS CAUSED BY TYPICAL COMPRESSION INJURIES, ILLUSTRATE THE COMPLICATIONS COMMON TO IMPACT-RELATED INJURIES, AND DISCUSS FATAL AND OFTEN MISDIAGNOSED HEAD INJURIES NOT ASSOCIATED WITH SKULL FRACTURES (E.G., SUBDURAL HEMORRHAGES). (KBL)