Chapter 1 Terms

Question 1

Autopsy* (Postmortem Examination)

Answer 1

A postmortem examination of the organs and tissues of a body to determine cause of death or pathological condition. Often for legal purposes. aka necropsy.

Question 2

Pathology*

Answer 2

The study of suffering / the science that deals with disease

Question 3

Pathogenesis*

Answer 3

The origin and development of a disease / the mechanism that results in the manifestations of signs and symptoms in the body.

Question 4

Etiology*

Answer 4

Underlying causes / the study of the cause of the disease

Question 5

Cause of Death*

Answer 5

Any injury or disease that produces a physiological derangement in the body that results in the death of an individual. ex: gunshot wound to head, blood clot in artery, lung cancer etc.

Question 6

Manner of Death*

Answer 6

Explains how the cause of death cam about. Generally classified on death certificates as either natural, homicide, suicide, accident or undetermined/unclassified.

Question 7

General Pathology*

Answer 7

Focuses on the cellular and tissue responses to pathologic stimuli. The study of the widespread processes of disease such as inflammation, degeneration, necrosis or cellular death, and repair without reference to particular organs or organ systems.

Question 8

Special Pathology*

Answer 8

Deals with the specific features of disease in relation to particular organs or organ systems, which is why special pathology is also referred to as systemic pathology.

Question 9

Mechanism of Death*

Answer 9

The physiological derangement produced by the cause of death that results in death. ex: bleeding, blood poisoning, faulty heartbeat, etc.

Question 10

Hypothermia*

Answer 10

When the body’s core temp drops too low. A body temperature below 80 degrees F (27 degrees C). Due to overexposure to the cold. Funeral service workers may see this among newborns, elderly and homeless.

Question 11

Lesion*

Answer 11

A circumscribed are of pathologically altered tissue, a single patch in a skin disease. Caused by disease, or result of an injury/wound. Boils, tumors, moles, scars, scales, ulcers or hives.

Question 12

Trauma

Answer 12

The process or event leading to an injury or wound. Social causes of injury and death. Generally stem from social behaviors (murder, suicide, motor vehicle accidents, alcohol poisoning, etc.)

Question 13

Ballistics

Answer 13

The science of the travel of bullets in flight.

Question 14

Rule of Nines

Answer 14

The extent of a burn is expressed as a percentage of the body surface area as determined by the “rule of nines”
Head: 9%
Upper extremities: Each 9%
Front of torso: 18%
Back: 18%
Lower extremities: Each 18%
Genitals: 1%

Question 15

Hippocrates

Answer 15

Greek, Born in 450 BC
Developed Hippocratic approach to disease.
Formed basis of modern ethics and treatment.
Rejected religious explanations of disease, argued for a more naturalistic approach.
Believed in Humors.

Question 16

Humors

Answer 16

Created by Hippocrates
Basic fluids in the body
Imbalance in humors caused disease
1) blood
2) Phlegm
3) black bile
4) yellow bile (serum)

Question 17

Cellular Theory of Disease

Answer 17

Created by Rudolf Virchow (1858)
ommnius cellula a cellula = “all cells arise from cells”
Diseased cells created diseased cells

Question 18

Categories of Death

Answer 18

1) due to disease causing microorganisms (AIDS)
2) due to degenerative pathological disorders (heart disease)
3) due to by-products of social environment (murder)

Question 19

Divisions of pathology

Answer 19

Pathological anatomy, Gross pathology, Histopathology,
Surgical pathology, Clinical pathology, Physiological pathology, medicolegal pathology

Question 20

Pathological anatomy

Answer 20

aka Morbid Anatomy, the study of structural changes in the body caused by disease. Includes gross and histopathology

Question 21

Gross Pathology

Answer 21

Study of changes of structure of the body that can be seen with the naked eye as a result of disease

Question 22

Histopathology

Answer 22

aka Microscopic Pathology, Study of the microscopic changes of ells, tissues and organs due to disease

Question 23

Surgical Pathology

Answer 23

Study of tissue specimens excised surgically during operations

Question 24

Clinical pathology

Answer 24

study of disease by means of secretions, excretions and other body fluids in the diagnosis of disease

Question 25

Physiological pathology

Answer 25

study of the changes in the body due to disease

Question 26

Medicolegal pathology

Answer 26

aka Forensic pathology, the study of disease to ascertain the cause and manner of death.

Question 27

Autopsy aka

Answer 27

Necropsy

Question 28

Drug Abuse

Answer 28

the use of mind-altering substances in a way that differs from generally approved medical useage

Question 29

Cocaine

Answer 29

stimulant with many derivatives extracted from the leaves of the coca plant. Comes in powder or “crack” form. Causes accumulation of dopamine and adrenaline in the nervous system. Has caused sudden death in first-time users

Question 30

Heroin

Answer 30

Opiate derived from the poppy plant, closely related to morphine. Sudden death results from respiratory failure, heart failure. Leaves lesions on body known as needle tracks.

Question 31

Gunshot wounds

Answer 31

exit wound is typically much larger than entrance wound, depending on the ballistics of the weapon and tissue characteristics.

Question 32

Laceration and crushing

Answer 32

handguns cause primarily crushing injuries because they use low-velocity bullets that travel less than 1,000 feet per second.

Question 33

Cavitation

Answer 33

a cavity is caused by the path of the bullet itself combined with the continued forward acceleration of the tissue in the wake of the bullet, which stretches out the wound.

Question 34

Shock waves

Answer 34

tissues are compressed by shock waves that travel ahead and to the sides of the bullet. Shock waves last only a few microseconds causing little tissue damage at low velocity.

Question 35

Density and elasticity of tissues regarding gunshot wounds

Answer 35

More damage occurs in dense tissues with low elasticity (muscle) than dense and elastic tissues (lungs)

Question 36

Electrical injuries

Answer 36

due to electrons flowing through the body depolarizing muscle and nerves, disrupting heart and brain function and producing electrical burns of body tissues.

Question 37

Lightning

Answer 37

Survival rate is over 50%, survival may be in a vegetative state due to severe brain damage. Burns are not always present, but may occur under male’s scrotum and on the penis. High likelihood of bleeding behind eardrum and rupture of eardrum.

Question 38

High voltage

Answer 38

Occur when objects such as poles, sailboat masts, antennas or cranes make contact with an overhead high-voltage power line; mostly through occupational exposures.

Question 39

Low voltage

Answer 39

occur when children bite into electrical cords. Resulting in sever burns of lip, face and tongue. Adults become grounded while touching appliances or other energized objects.

Question 40

Burns

Answer 40

involves the destruction of skin cells and sometimes the underlying structures of muscle, subcutaneous tissues or bone. Young, elderly and physically challenged are at risk of burn injuries. Sources included heat sources, cold sources and chemicals.

Question 41

Severity of burns

Answer 41

• 1st degree: superficial burns, skin is red without blisters (minor sunburn)
• 2nd degree: skin is moist, red and blistered. reached the dermal layer. eventually heal without scarring.
• 3rd degree: necrosis of epidermis and dermis. skin usually dry, white, leathery appearance. no blisters, lesions may appear charred with brown black discoloration. Heal with scars.
• 4th degree: incineration injuries extending deep into tissues. Cremation is an example. Total soft-tissue evacuation.

Question 42

Frost bite

Answer 42

cold-related injury characterized by freezing of tissue. Ice crystal formation, cellular dehydration, protein denaturation, inhibition of DNA synthesis, abnormal cell wall permeability, damage to capillaries and pH changes.

Question 43

Incisions

Answer 43

clean cut through skin (from stabbing/knife)

Question 44

Lacerations

Answer 44

jagged edges and result from tear in skin due to blunt force

Question 45

Head freeze

Answer 45

the use of astringent embalming fluids and short bursts of injection directly into the head via the carotid arteries while it is manually held in place by the embalmer. Each side of head is injected separately. Embalming fluid will fixate the tissues before they have the opportunity to swell.

Question 46

Stabbing

Answer 46

twisting while being stabbed will cause a greater gaping wound, especially is cut crosses Langer’s lines.