STABBING THE LUNGS AND ABDOMEN

                                                        THE HEART AND LUNGS
                                                (Wikimedia Commons - Gray's Anatomy)



                                       STABBING THE LUNGS

The right lung is divided into three lobes, the upper lobe, middle lobe and lower lobe.

Consequently, if you stab the right lung and deflate one lobe, the other two lobes will expand to compensate for decreased oxygenation.

Your attacker will experience pain associated with the stabbing as well as shortness of breath and respiratory difficulty due to bleeding and collapse of the wounded lobe.

He will cough up blood and be moderately incapacitated, allowing you to escape.

The way to puncture each lobe of the right lung is to simply introduce the blade of the knife or any penetrating instrument between the ribs directly into the lung.

If you move the knife handle up and down as well as from side to side after full penetration, you will cause even greater damage than with a simple stab.

If you stab the right lung in the middle of the chest near the right border of the sternum or breast bone, you may be able to sever the right bronchus, which is the air tube bringing air from the trachea to the right lung and thereby collapse all three lobes of the right lung.

You may also sever the right pulmonary artery and right pulmonary vein and cause hemorrhage within the right chest cavity, a condition medically known as right hemothorax.

The left lung is composed of the upper lobe, lower lobe and a small tongue-like lobe called the lingula, which in Latin means tongue.

The reason for the middle lobe of the left lung being diminished in size to a small lingula is the fact that the heart occupies a significant space within the left chest.

Therefore if you stab the upper part of the left chest between two upper ribs, you will puncture and deflate the left upper lobe.

If you penetrate the left lower chest with a knife, you will puncture and deflate the left lower lobe.

However, you can inflict the most serious injury when you stab the middle part of the left chest near the left border of the sternum or breast bone because you will most likely not just damage the lingula but will cause fatal injury to the heart as well, especially if you vigorously wiggle the handle of the knife to maximize the extent of the stab wound.

In addition, the left bronchus, left pulmonary artery and left pulmonary vein can be severed in this process, leading to total collapse of the entire left lung as well as intrathoracic hemorrhage or left hemothorax.

                                                  THE ABDOMEN
                                      (Wikimedia Commons - Gray's Anatomy)

                                      STABBING THE ABDOMEN

The abdomen is separated from the chest cavity by two muscular membranes called the right hemidiaphragm and the left hemidiaphragm.

Underneath the right hemidiaphragm lies the liver.

Underneath the left hemidiaphragm lies the spleen.

In the middle of the upper abdomen is the stomach and directly behind the stomach lies the pancreas.

The middle portion of the abdomen behind the umbilicus or navel is primarily occupied by the intestines, which are subdivided into the duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon.

The duodenum, jejunum and ileum are successive portions of the small intestine.

These are coiled and convoluted tubular structures whose function is to digest and carry food from the stomach to the large intestine or colon.

In a person of average size, the small intestinal tract may be as long as 24 feet, intricately coiled up within the abdominal cavity.

Therefore if you stab the middle of the stomach, you will most likely sever the small intestinal tract.

The colon or large intestine is subdivided into the ascending colon, which carries stool upward along the right side of the abdomen.

It then makes a sharp turn underneath the liver and cuts across the abdomen to the other side.

This portion is called the transverse colon.

From this point, it turns downward as the descending colon, becoming the sigmoid colon which opens to the outside as the anus.

                                  

                                                           THE HUMAN LIVER
                                      (Wikipedia Commons  Author de Benutzer Uwe Gille)

                                         STABBING THE LIVER

The liver is a large and friable organ located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen, directly underneath the right hemidiaphragm.

The liver, whose main function is synthesis of proteins and essential hormones and detoxification of chemical agents toxic to the body, is a very vascular organ permeated by tiny blood channels called sinusoids.

It is completely covered by a membranous capsule called Glisson's capsule.

When penetrated by the blade of a knife, the liver bleeds profusely.

Blood accumulates inside Glisson's capsule, distending it. Distension of Glisson's capsule is for some reason extremely painful.

Laceration of liver tissue, with its associated profuse hemorrhage, will rapidly lead to hypotension and shock, causing the attacker to lose consciousness.

The most effective way to stab the liver is to penetrate the abdomen below the lower right rib cage and direct the blade upward.

As mentioned previously, the liver is located underneath the right hemidiaphragm but it is protected in front by the lower right ribs.

Consequently, the knife or other penetrating instrument needs to be aimed upward from the right lower rib cage in order to reach and penetrate the liver.

The spleen is situated in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen underneath the left hemidiaphragm.

Its front part is also protected by the left lower rib cage.

Like the liver, the spleen is a very vascular organ permeated by vascular channels called sinusoids and its tissue is soft and friable.

Laceration of the spleen is effectuated by placing the tip of the knife in the left upper abdominal quadrant and directing the thrust upward.

The spleen is also enclosed within a capsule and laceration of the spleen produces profuse hemorrhage, leading to massive internal blood loss, hypotension, shock and loss of consciousness.

The pancreas is hard to reach because it is hidden behind the stomach.

Laceration of the pancreas causes pain and leakage of pancreatic enzymes.

However, unlike the liver or spleen, the pancreas is not a vascular organ and its injury is not associated with much bleeding.

A stab wound to the small or large intestine does not cause significant bleeding.

There will naturally be pain but only moderate incapacitation.

The only way to cause severe intestinal injury is to effectuate an evisceration.

This is accomplished by stabbing the abdomen with a sharp knife and then moving the blade in a clockwise fashion around the edge of the abdomen,

When the abdominal wall is dissected in this fashion, the intestinal tract will slip outside of the abdominal cavity, a process known as evisceration.

In ancient Japan, a samurai warrior who has lost a battle may commit suicide according to a traditional act of honor called Harakiri.

In this final act, the warrior uses both hands to drive his sword into the midupper part of his stomach, then carves his abdomen by moving the blade in a clockwise fashion,

first to his left side, lacerating the spleen,

then downward along the left abdominal border toward the left groin, lacerating small and large intestines in the process.

He then moves the blade of the sword across the lower abdomen to the right side

and upward toward the liver,

thus eviscerating himself in a complete and circular clockwise fashion.

The samurai then falls forward and is decapitated by the person for whom he holds the most respect and veneration.

The kidneys are located posteriorly in the left and right flanks.

To injure a kidney, a stab is made posteriorly on the right or left flank.

A lacerated kidney will bleed only moderately and does not lead to significant incapacitation.

Therefore, the kidneys are not worthwhile targets in self-defense.

Other organs located within the lower abdominal cavity of a man are the ureters and bladder.

Injury to the ureters and bladder is associated with only mild bleeding and moderate discomfort. Therefore, the ureters and bladder are not considered important targets in self-defense.

The male genitalia or sexual organ consists primarily of the penis and scrotum containing two testicles. These suborgans are vulnerable to attack.

Kicking or kneeing the groin of the male attacker will produce only temporary pain and incapacitation, not enough to make much difference in terms of allowing you to safely escape.

It is more effective to plunge a knife directly into the groin area of the attacker and damage the penis, urethra, scrotum, testicles as well as the bladder.

An aroused and erect penis is swollen and engorged with blood contained within cavities called corpora spongiosa and corpora cavernosa. If the penis is lacerated, profuse bleeding results.

The best way to attack the penis is to slice or bite it off. Grabbing the erect and blood engorged penis with one hand and slicing it off its base with a knife in the other hand can be accomplished in one stroke.

If the woman is forced to perform fellatio by the criminal male attacker, she can allow the engorged penis to penetrate deeply inside her mouth, then clamp her upper and lower teeth tightly.

She should then shake her head violently from side to side or jerk her head backward or downward with clenched teeth in order to separate the penis from its base.

She should then spit out the bleeding penile shaft and throw it away from her as far away as possible and escape.

Chances are good that the attacker will run to retrieve his severed penis instead of persuing his escaping victim.

If you firmly grab one or both testicles and twist or pull violently downward, you will cause what is medically called testicular torsion.

Testicular torsion is a very painful and incapacitating process. The attacker will experience excrutiating pain. He will discontinue his attack and allow you to escape.



        

AIMING FOR THE HEART

                          THE HEART
                                   (Wikimedia Commons - Gray's Anatomy)
When the chest of the assaillant is an intended target for stabbing, consider the following intrathoracic anatomy.

The major organs inside the chest are the heart, right and left lungs, lower portion of the trachea with its bifurcation into the right and left bronchi,

the esophagus or food tube connecting the throat to the stomach and

the thoracic vertebrae which contain and protect the thoracic portion of the spinal cord within the vertebral canal.

The entire chest cavity is supported by a bony cage called the rib cage or thoracic cage.

It is composed of the sternum or breast bone in front and the thoracic vertebrae in the back, with the ribs extending in a semi-circular fashion between the sternum and the thoracic vertebrae.

The heart is primarily situated in the middle of the chest behind the breast bone.

It does extend into the left side of the chest as far out as the left nipple.

It is structurally divided into two upper chambers called the right atrium and left atrium and two larger lower chambers called the right ventricle and left ventricle.

Deoxygenated venous blood from the entire body enters the heart at the back of the right atrium through two major veins called the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava.

The superior vena cava receives deoxygenated venous blood from the head, neck and arms while the inferior vena cava receives deoxygenated venous blood from the chest, abdomen and legs.

After deoxygenated venous blood empties into the right atrium through the superior vena cava and the inferior vena cava, it is propelled into the right ventricle through a valve called the tricuspid valve.

The right ventricle then contracts and sends this unoxygenated blood through the pulmonary valve into another set of blood vessel called the right and left pulmonary arteries, which carry deoxygenated blood to both lungs.

Venous blood is thoroughly reoxygenated within the two lungs and then returned to the left upper chamber or left atrium through the right anf left pulmonary veins.

From the left atrium, oxygenated blood is propelled through the mitral valve into the left ventricle, which in turn contracts and sends oxygenated blood through the aortic valve into the largest and most important artery of the body called the aorta in order to nourish the entire body.

This anatomic explanation of the heart with all the medical terminology may seem confusing.

All you need to remember is that the heart is situated primarily in the midline with extension into about half of the left chest.

Be also aware that there are a number of large blood vessels connected to the heart.

These are the superior vena cava, the inferior vena cava, the right and left pulmonary arteries and veins and the aorta.

If any chamber of the heart is stabbed and lacerated, death is usually instantaneous.

If the blade of the knife misses the heart but lacerates one of the major blood vessels connected to the heart, the result is just as catastrophic and potentially fatal.

Since the entire chest cavity is protected by the rib cage, two different approaches are necessary for penetration of the heart.

In the direct approach, stabbing is made between two lower ribs on the left side of the breast bone or sternum.

In this maneuver, the lower chambers or ventricles will be perforated and lacerated, leading to cessation of heart beat.

Remember to wiggle the knife handle after penetration is complete in order to maximize cardiac injury.

Another way to reach and penetrate the heart is to insert the blade at a point just below the breast bone but aim the tip of the knife toward the left at a 45 degrees angle.

Again the ventricle or lower chamber will be perforated, blood will leak into the membranous envelop of the heart called the pericardium.

Accumulation of blood underneath the pericardium will compress the heart itself, leading to cardiac tamponade and inability of the heart to contract and expand, which is rapidly fatal.

If you stab your attacker between two higher ribs near the left upper portion of the sternum or breast bone, you will miss the heart but instead lacerate major blood vessels such as the superior vena cava, pulmonary arteries, pulmonary veins and the aorta.

The result can be equally fatal.

                                                     THE HEART
                                         (Wikimedia Commons -  Author Ties van Brussel)

ATTACKING THE NECK

The defensive weapons which you can use against the neck of your assaillant are divided into three types, slicing weapon such as a long thin blade, penetrating instrument such as a long sharp dagger and strangulating wire or cord.

An example of a good slicing weapon is the boxcutter with its very thin flat blade encased in plastic, which is commonly used to open packages.

It is highly recommended that every woman keeps a box cutter within her purse for her own protection if it is legal in her state to do so. A boxcutter is of light weight and therefore easy for a woman to carry.

The broad and thin blade can be easily pushed out of its plastic casing and locked in the same movement by just using your thumb.

The exposed blade, usually 2-3 inches in length, can effectively slice the carotid artery or jugular vein in the neck and cause fatal hemorrhage.

However, the use of this instrument requires swift hand motion as well as knowledge of the locations of the cervical spinal cord, the carotid arteries and the jugular veins.

The disadvantage of this instrument is the fact that its metallic blade is thin and easily broken.

A long penetrating instrument such as a knife, sharpened screwdriver or sharpened letter opener can easily penetrate the soft tissue of the neck but its use also requires knowledge of the exact anatomic locations of the cervical vertebrae, as well as the major blood vessels inside the neck.

Placing a penetrating instrument into the sternocleidomastoid muscles of the neck is totally ineffective.

Even perforating the windpipe or trachea with a penetrating instrument will not incapacitate the attacker.

However, lacerating the carotid artery, the jugular vein or the cervical spinal cord of the assaillant will definitely cause incapacitation, paralysis and/or fatality.

It is physically possible for a woman to use a string or wire to strangulate her assaillant. This maneuver requires an element of surprise but can be performed easily and effectively once the technique is learned.

                                             SLICING THE NECK

If you are equiped with a slicing instrument such as a box cutter or a knife with flat thin blade, the most effective way to slice the assaillant's neck is to aim at an area on either side of the midline.



The windpipe or trachea is located in the midline of the neck, along with Adam's apple and attached thyroid and parathyroid glands.

It is important to know that injury to these organs cause minimal incapacitation.

Basically nothing happens when the Adam's apple, the thyroid gland or the parathyroid gland is injured.

Even if the trachea or windpipe is cut or perforated, the assaillant can still breath through the aperture of the injured trachea.

In medicine, patients with tracheostomy have undergone perforation of their windpipe and they can breath quite comfortably through this surgical opening.

Therefore, in slicing the neck of the attacker, you primarily want to lacerate the carotid artery or the jugular vein.

If the carotid artery is sliced, copious quantity of blood will spurt out of the cut artery with each heart contraction.

Half of the assaillant's brain on the same side will be deprived of blood supply and the attacker will undergo a massive stroke and lose consciousness.

Laceration of the jugular vein also causes profuse bleeding but more prolonged hemorrhage is required before your attacker will lose consciousness.

It is still sufficiently incapacitating because the attacker will release his grip and intuitively place his hands on his neck in the attempt to stem the hemorrhage by putting pressure over the lacerated jugular vein.

This will allow you the opportunity to disengage and escape.

The most effective way to lacerate the carotid artery or the jugular vein is to first thrust the blade into the neck about an inch on either side of the midline and then slice outwards.

Presumably the blade will initially be pushed inward next to the trachea and will lacerate both the carotid artery and the jugular vein as it moves and cuts laterally.

There are five bones inside the neck, collectively known as the cervical vertebrae.

The first bone lies directly underneath the skull and is named Axis.

The second vertebra is called Atlas and the three remaining bones are simply known as the third, fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae.

Besides acting as bony support for the neck, these cervical vertebrae enclose and protect the spinal cord.

The spinal cord is a long tail of the brain which extends downward from the base of the skull all the way to your lower back.

As you well know, when the spinal cord is cut, immediate paralysis results.

If the portion of the spinal cord within the neck is sliced by a knife, immediate paralysis of the arms, legs and the respiratory muscles of the chest ensues and the assaillant becomes severely and irreversibly incapacitated.

Slicing of the cervical spinal cord is best performed posteriorly, from the back of the neck.

In this maneuver, the thin blade of the boxcutter may not be effective because the blade may break when it comes in contact with the bony vertebra.

The stronger blade of a real knife is preferable. It may have to slice the tough ligaments between two adjacent cervical vertebrae before being able to lacerate the spinal cord.

In this maneuver, you reach behind the neck of your assaillant and aim the tip of the knife toward yourself, pushing the blade inward between two adjacent cervical vertebrae.

It may be between this Axis and the Atlas or between the third and fourth cervical vertebrae.

If you feel the tip of your blade hitting bone, simply move the tip upward or downward until it slips into the intervertebral space, then plunge the tip directly inward and you will sever the spinal cord, which is located within the spinal canal.

In bullfighting, the matador kills his bovine adversary by plunging the tip of a long sword between two cervical vertebrae. The spinal cord of the bull is severed, leading to immediate paralysis and death.


                          STABBING THE NECK

If you choose to stab the neck of your assaillant with a penetrating instrument such as a long knife, sharpened screwdriver or sharpened letter opener, be sure to avoid the midline structures such as the trachea, Adam's apple, thyroid and parathyroid glands, as well as the laterally situated sternocleidomastoid muscles.

As mentioned previously, perforation of these organs is ineffective with regard to your self-defense. You must aim for the carotid artery and/or the jugular vein, which are located about one or two inches from the midline of the neck.

Once your instrument has penetrated deeply within the tissue of the neck, move the handle vigorously from side to side in order to ensure maximal damage.

If you have failed to directly perforate the carotid artery or the jugular vein, moving your knife handle from side to side will assure that these vessels become lacerated, leading to hemorrhage and stroke.

The penetrating instrument can also be used posteriorly behind the neck of the assaillant to cut and damage the cervical spinal cord.

Again, once the posterior neck is penetrated at an intervertebral space, moving the knife handle from side to side will assure complete laceration of the protected spinal cord.

               STRANGULATION OF THE NECK

As stated previously, it is possible for a woman to strangle her attacker using a string or wire. This maneuver requires an element of surprise followed by use of only moderate strength.

If a string or thin cord is used, the potential victim should furtively remove a string about 2 feet in length from her purse, wrap one end of the string several times around the index and middle fingers of the left hand and the other end around the index and middle fingers of her right hand.

Face the assaillant directly, being careful not to show him the string. The hands can be hidden behind the purse or underneath the blouse or coat.

When you are grabbed by the attacker, immediate place your left hand on his right shoulder. The assaillant will think that you are merely trying to push him away.

Direct your right hand toward his left shoulder and make a quick circular sweeping motion around the back of the head and toward his face.

This circular motion of your right hand brings the string a full circle around your assaillant's neck.

Now stretch both arms laterally with your fists clenched and the string will strangle the neck of your attacker, cutting off blood and oxygen supply to his brain and causing sudden loss of consciousness.

When the attacker slumps over forward or backward, follow the movement of his body and tightly maintain the ligature.

If you release the strangulation before 3 minutes, the assaillant will regain consciousness and resume his attack.

If you keep the ligature tight for over 5 minutes, the assaillant will most likely die or sustain severe brain damage.

You on the other hand will have saved your life and be able to escape.

For this maneuver, a black or transparent string is recommended in order to minimize visibility.

A transparent cord such as nylon guitar string is ideal because it is very strong and virtually invisible.

The same maneuver can be performed with a thin wire but unless you wear gloves, wrapping a thin wire around your index and middle fingers will likely cut into your own flesh when you stretch your arms.

When a metallic aire is used, it is recommended that you prepare this weapon beforehand by wrapping each end of the wire securely several times around a metallic ring, the kind of metallic rings that are used to hold keys.

When ready to use this weapon, put the rings on your left and right thumb or index finger and perform the same maneuver to effectuate encirclement of the assaillant's neck.

When you stretch your arms laterally with your fists clenched, your attacker will not only be strangulated but the thin wire will slice the tissues of his neck, causing lacerations of the trachea, the carotid arteries and the jugular veins.

If your garrotting wire is at the level of an intervertebral space, it will also sever the spinal cord and paralysis or decapitation will ensue.

The advantage associated with the use of a garrotting metallic wire lies in the fact that you do not have to maintain the ligature for 3-5 minutes to induce loss of consciousness.

If the wire lacerates the trachea and the major blood vessels in the attacker's neck, he will become immediately incapacitated, with no chance for recovery, allowing you to escape as soon as the maneuver is completed.