What is the term for the ring with blackening on the edge of the skin at a gunshot entrance?

• A. Abrasion ring
• B. Ring of soot
• C. Entrance halo
• D. Blackened edge ring

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is recognizing the standard term for the ring that forms around an entrance wound due to the skin being scraped as the bullet enters. That ring is called an abrasion ring (also known as an abrasion collar). It appears because the skin experiences friction and minor tearing at the edge of the wound as the projectile passes through, creating a distinct peripheral ring. In close-range firearms, you may also observe soot deposition or blackening around the wound, but that soot-related feature is a separate observation and does not define the ring itself. The other terms listed aren’t the established descriptors for this feature.