Death Investigation Flashcards
Forensic Medicine
application of medical specialities to legal issues
forensic pathologists
study injuries and disease to determine cause of death
coroner
elected official who oversees a death investigation
medical examiner
completes autopsies and determines cause and manner of death, type of forensic pathologist
five manners of death
natural, accidental, homicide, suicide, unknown/ undetermined
autopsy
often completed for unexplained, suspicious deaths
autopsy; external examination
health, heigh, weight, eye color, physical characteristics, injuries, x-ray, fingernails are scraped, fingerprints are collected, trace evidence on body/ collected and preserved
autopsy; internal examination
organs examined, weighed and measured, tissue samples examined microscopically, fluid samples sent to toxicologists, all items are preserved and properly stored (chain and custody)
1: algor mortis
temp drops at a regular rate
2: rigor mortis
body stiffens from lack of oxygen and ATP
four hours after death
starts in face and hands
complete within 12 hours, non rigid after 30-36
3: livor mortis
discoloration of skin caused by settling of blood
lowest parts of body
becomes fixed after 6-8 hours
stages: 1st; fresh stage
begins four min after death
autopsy occurs
all mortis’ occur
(1-2 days)
stages: 2nd; bloated stage
occurs after cells rupture putrefaction (decay or rotting) occurs bacteria produces gases while feeding off body fluids body swells and may look greenish body temp will spike
stages: 3rd; active decay
skin breaks open
emits very strong odor
body loses most mass as microbes and insects consume soft tissue
stages: 4th; advanced decay
remaining tissues are broken down
speed of decomposition slows
plants around corpse die, but fungi flourish
stages: 5th; skeletal stage
skeletonization leaves just bones and hair
diagenesis eventually occurs breaking down bone
factors that affect decomposition (5)
temperature, moisture, location of body, injuries on body, presence of carnivores and insects
the organism that is the first to show up after death
insects
odontologist
forensic specialist who examines dental x-rays and bite marks
entomology (PMI)
forensic specialist who determines the post mortem interval by studying insect activity
anthropometric
forensic specialist who examines human skeletal remains
European facial traits
straight/ flat prominent profile
narrow, high nasal cavity
large, sharp lower nasal spine
slight overbite and chisel-shaped teeth
African facial traits
rounded chin, pragmatic facial profile
rounded, wide nasal cavity
small lower nasal spine
slight overbite and chisel-shaped teeth
Asian/ American Indian facial traits
mostly straight/ flat profile slight chin projection flared base (heart-shaped) nasal cavity shape small lower nasal spine edge to edge bite, shovel shaped teeth
who was the founder of anthropometry
A. Bertillion
Compression
Fracture lines will often be numerous, wide-reaching, and tend to radiate outward from the point of impact
force pushes down on bone
shearing
force is applied by immobilization of one bone segment
a linear shearing type of fracture in the bone occurs
mostly accidents, or dismembering
bending
triangular break usually through cross section, causes fracture lines at the point of impact or on the sides opposite from the break
parry fracture; when warding off a blow, show a violent struggle
torsion
most often accidents and child abuse
caused by a spiral down the long axis of the bone
tension
a force that pulls on the long axis of the bone
portion can break away
few fracture lines
mostly accidents than violent deaths
