What is characteristic of a tangential gunshot wound?

A tangential gunshot wound is characterized by the projectile skimming along the surface of the skin rather than entering deeply into the body. This results in shallow wounds, often referred to as grazing wounds, which typically do not penetrate the full thickness of the skin. The nature of the injury suggests that the bullet traveled at a very low angle in relation to the body surface, which means it may cause minimal tissue damage. Such wounds often present as linear abrasions or superficial lacerations, emphasizing the shallow nature of the injury and how it interferes with the skin rather than creating deeper trauma.