Arterial Spurting Pattern – Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Terminology (IABPA)

Note: At the 2009 IABPA meeting in Portland, OR, USA, the IABPA membership voted to adopt the SWGSTAIN recommended terminology.

Definition

Arterial Spurting Pattern: Bloodstain pattern(s) resulting from blood exiting the body under pressure from a breached artery.

Bloodstain Example - Arterial Spurting Pattern

Description

This pattern was generated by drawing blood into a large-bore syringe and projecting it at the target.

The shape of arterial patterns can vary greatly but all deal with blood leaving the body under pressure. Patterns may have a series of large spurts as a result of larger wounds or they may be snake-like if the wound is smaller or restricted.

Alternate Terminology

Bevel & Gardner	Spatter Family - Linear - (Arterial) Spurt
James, Kish & Sutton	Spatter - Projected Mechanism - Arterial Spurt/Gush Spray
Wonder	Arterial - (Breach)
SWGSTAIN	Closest to Projected Pattern - A bloodstain pattern resulting from the ejection of a volume of blood under pressure.