Which type of blood splatter is caused by a major artery being hit?

The type of blood splatter caused by a major artery being hit is referred to as an aerial spray. Aerial spray occurs when blood is forcibly expelled from the body, often resulting from a high-pressure source such as a major artery being damaged. This kind of splatter typically creates a fine mist of blood droplets that can travel over a considerable distance, due to the force with which the blood escapes from the wound.

In contrast, cast off spatter generally results from blood being flicked off a weapon or object, while expirated splatter originates from blood being expelled from the mouth or nose, often due to coughing or sneezing. Passive drops are created by blood that drips due to gravity and do not involve any forceful expulsion. Each of these other types of blood spatter has its own distinct characteristics that differentiate it from an aerial spray, which is specifically linked to the high-velocity ejection of blood from an arterial wound.