Tracing the Trajectory: A New Era in Forensic Science: Case Report

Dr. Sharon G Samuel, Dr. Vipul N Ambade, Dr. Manu D Sharma, Dr. Sharad Gupta

Abstract: Virtual autopsy, or virtopsy, represents a transformative shift in forensic pathology by replacing traditional invasive medicolegal autopsies with advanced imaging modalities such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and 3D surface scanning. This non-invasive technique enables comprehensive visualization of internal structures, facilitating accurate documentation of injuries, pathologies, and foreign objects without compromising the integrity of the body. Particularly valuable in cases involving decomposed, mutilated, or culturally sensitive remains, virtual autopsy enhances diagnostic precision while respecting ethical and religious considerations. Its applications span forensic death investigations, trauma analysis, and medico-legal documentation, offering reproducible data for interdisciplinary collaboration and legal proceedings. Despite limitations in tactile feedback and histological sampling, virtual autopsy serves as a complementary tool to conventional autopsy, with growing potential in forensic neuropathology, mass disaster response, and digital archiving. Continued technological advancements and integration with histopathology and toxicology may further establish virtopsy as a cornerstone in modern forensic medicine. Firearm projectile tracing has a pivotal component of forensic ballistics, enabling the reconstruction of shooting incidents through the analysis of bullet trajectories, impact patterns, and ballistic signatures. This discipline integrates principles of physics, material science, and forensic pathology to determine the origin, direction, and behaviour of projectiles. Techniques such as trajectory reconstruction, striation pattern comparison, and gyroscopic motion analysis allow investigators to link bullets to specific firearms and firing positions. Virtual autopsy in case of gunshot injury in the foreseeable future, can become reliable alternative to traditional post-mortem techniques.

Keywords: Virtual, Autopsy, Projectile, Tracing, Medicolegal autopsy

How to Cite?: Dr. Sharon G Samuel, Dr. Vipul N Ambade, Dr. Manu D Sharma, Dr. Sharad Gupta, "Tracing the Trajectory: A New Era in Forensic Science: Case Report", Volume 14 Issue 7, July 2025, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 847-851, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR25713230655, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR25713230655