A stabbing or stab is the penetration of the human body by a sharp or pointed object at close range. Stab connotes purposeful action, as by an assassin or murderer, but it is also possible to accidentally stab oneself or others, although such stabbings are rare and still more rarely fatal. Stabbing differs from slashing or cutting in that the motion of the object used in a stabbing generally moves perpendicular to and directly into the victim's body, rather than being drawn across it.
Death from stabbing is caused by shock, severe blood loss, infection, or loss of functioning of an essential organ such as the heart.
The human skin has a somewhat elastic property as a self-defense; when the human body is stabbed by a thin object such as a kitchen knife, the skin often closes tightly around the object and closes again if the object is removed, which reduces blood loss. To defeat this defense and increase the likelihood of delivering a fatal stab wound, weapons engineers developed the blood groove , an elongated concave depression in a metal blade, to help open the wound and allow blood to flow more freely. The blood groove was added to the sword, bayonet, and other warrior weapons, and remains a common feature of stabbing weapons today such as the American M9 Bayonet .
Stabbings have been common throughout human history, and were the means used to assassinate a number of distinguished historical figures, such as the Roman Emperors Julius Caesar and Nero. Stabbings today are common among gangs and in prisons because knives are cheap, easy to acquire (or manufacture), and highly concealable. The threat of stabbing is perhaps the most common form of robbery. The stabbing method of choice for today's street gang member is the juke , in which the stabbing weapon is inserted into the victim (usually in a soft area like the abdomen), turned, and withdrawn, which produces a horrific semi-circular wound.
The historical practice of stabbing oneself purposefully in ritual suicide is known as hara-kiri (seppuku).
Commonly used weapons for stabbing purposes:
Objects common in accidental stabbings:
- Glass, such as in a window through which the victim accidentally walks or falls
- Rebar and other metal construction materials
- Nails, which pierce the victim's foot
- Drill bits , which the victim falls onto
See also
Last updated: 10-20-2005 20:10:27
