The majority of injuries to gas-containing organs are usually attributed to what effect?

The majority of injuries to gas-containing organs, such as the lungs and gastrointestinal tract, are typically attributed to the primary blast effect. This effect arises due to the sudden pressure changes caused by an explosion, which exerts direct forces on the body. Gas-containing organs are particularly vulnerable because the rapid pressure fluctuation can lead to barotrauma, where the pressure difference can rupture the tissues or cause significant internal damage.

In this context, the primary blast effect focuses on the immediate impact of the explosion's shock wave as it travels through the air. When this shock wave encounters gas-filled organs, the air pressure differences can lead to injury even if there is no direct physical trauma from shrapnel or debris.

The other effects, such as the secondary, tertiary, and fourth-stage blast effects, additionally contribute to injuries from explosions but generally affect other types of injuries or lead to injury mechanisms that are not primarily linked to gas-containing organs. Secondary blast effects typically involve shrapnel or debris causing lacerations or blunt trauma, tertiary effects relate to the victim being displaced by the blast, and fourth-stage effects may encompass longer-term consequences of exposure to the blast or the environment. Thus, the primary blast effect is the most significant in explaining the specific injuries to gas