Final answer:
Blunt force trauma can result in linear, depressed, and comminuted skull fractures, with specific patterns suggesting the impacting object's type. Strong blows may also lead to contrecoup and basilar fractures, indicating the severe force involved.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics of an impact pattern made by blunt force trauma include a variety of fractures and injuries resulting from the force and shape of the impacting object. Some common types of injuries include linear skull fractures, where fracture lines radiate from the impact point, depressed fractures with the fractured bone pushed inward, and comminuted fractures where the bone is shattered into pieces. In some cases, the force can be so strong that it causes a contrecoup fracture, where the bone at the point of impact remains intact, but the opposite side of the skull fractures. Blunt force trauma can also cause basilar fractures to the occipital bone, which may damage significant arteries such as the one passing through the carotid canal. The specific pattern of injuries, including the shape and position of the lesion, can often suggest the type of object that caused the trauma, such as heavy stones or the handles of weapons.