What do defensive cuts on the palms and underarms suggest about the circumstances of an injury?

Defensive cuts on the palms and underarms indicate that the individual likely attempted to protect themselves during an attack, suggesting a struggle. This type of injury typically occurs in scenarios involving violence, particularly during assaults where the victim was confronted by an aggressor. The presence of these cuts implies that the person was actively trying to fend off the attacker, which aligns closely with the characteristics of a homicide situation.

In contrast, accidental injuries usually do not involve such defensive actions, as they often result from misadventures or mishaps without intent or confrontation. Suicides may involve self-inflicted wounds but are less likely to present as defensive injuries. Natural causes refer to injuries or fatalities arising from health conditions or aging and would not involve defensive actions in any context. Thus, the identification of defensive cuts strongly correlates with a violent confrontation and points towards homicide as the most plausible scenario.