Definitions Flashcards
definition of pathology
study of disease
definition of pathologist
medical diagnostician (doctor’’s doctor) determines patient’s diagnosis
definition of anatomic pathology
science of analyzing tissue structure from a wide variety of specimens (biopsies and autopsy)
definition of cytopathology
(cylo=cell) subspecialty of anatomic pathology, but microscopic diagnosis is made by examination of individual cells (collected through procedures from fluids and tissues)
definition of clinical pathology
involves the analysis and interpretation of chemical, hormonal, and biochemical components of body fluids to determine whether a disease is present
definition of microbiology
involves testing and diagnosis of material to determine which infectious organism (bacteria, fungus, virus, parasite) is infecting or infesting the patient
definition of hematopathology
(blood) focuses on diagnosis of disease of blood and blood forming organs
definition of neuropathologist
diseases of nervous system
definition of dermapathology
diseases of skin
forensic pathology
main diagnosis effort is to determine cause of death and how death occurred
definition of toxicologist
examines samples of tissues obtained during autopsy to determine what drugs (legal and illegal) or poisons are in the body as well as location and quantity
definition of hoximate cause of death
initial incident of art that set into motion, person’s death (proximate cause of death must be identified)
definition of immediate cause of death
thing that caused death (nothing leading up to event); aka mechanism of death
definition of autopsy
meticulously performed procedure that is much more extensive
definition of an external autopsy
head-to-toe inspection of body (hair, tattoos, color of eyes, etc.); pictures are taken often with a ruler
definition of an internal autopsy
(men have a Y-shaped incision; women have a T-shaped incision); organs are removed and dissected; pleural cavities are examined for blood and fluid and tumors; pericardium is removed; pulmonary blood vessels are examined; heart valves are examined and measured; all organs are removed and dissected; contents of stomach are noted; a tend of autopsy samples of blood, urine, kidney, liver, brain, bile and gastric contents are collected and saved for toxicological exam
definition of anoxic
caused by the loss of RBC’s; death from asphyxia/anoxic occur when breathing is stopped
definition of smothering
due to mechanical obstruction of the upper airway by an object
definition of strangulation
outside of the neck is constricted; leads abrasion-like marks on skin; petechial hemorrhages on face and conjunctiva of the inner eyelids are often associated with strangulation and smothering
definition of petechial hemorrhages
discrete bleeding points about the size of a pin that result from bleeding of capillaries; environmental causes include drowning, sometimes monoxide poisoning; drowning has several phases and can be identified if body has H2O in not only lungs but also stomach
definition of blunt
force injuries; usually caused by an object staking the body; usually cause contusions of the soft tissues (bruise); lacerations can be left if force is great enough; can also be seen in internal organs/in broken bones
definition of defense wound
usually one or more cuts or slashes found on the arms, hands, fingers, shows signs of a struggle
definition of a hesitation wound
one of the parallel directed, superficial cuts found o wrists or neck of the deceased mark by the person him or herself; penetrating injuries, such as bullets, knives, and other objects; electrical injuries; thermal injuries, exposure to heat, cold, and fire
definition of arson
fires that are intentionally set; being struck by lightning leaves a tree mark pattern on skin
definition of chain of custody
tracking system used to know who handled evidence
definition of mortis
dependent on internal temperature of person; dependent on physical condition of dead
definition of cadaveric spasm
where muscles contract forcibly at moment of death
definition of late signs of death
by this time all early signs are gone; body starts a decomposition autolysis process (self “digestive”); end result is that all soft tissues eventually disappear and becomes skeletonized
definition of mummification
black leather appearance; skin shrines and dries
definition of adipocere
fat tissue turns waxy; happens for bodies found in H2O; these T changes also occur inside the body; may occur in body exposed to air over the course of one year (depends on temperature); insects that infest the body speed up skeletonization of body
definition of forensic entomologist
(entom=insect) can determine postmortem internal based on type of stage of insect larvae present
definition of presumptive identification
determined identity by drivers license, passport, etc. (not enough need positive identification)
definition of positive identification
usually occurs when a friend, relative views body and confirms identity; if body is decomposed forensic odontologist can examine and x-ray teeth of deceased or DNA or forensic anthropologist (bones)
definition of serial killer
murderers who commit homicides with multiple victims
definition of spree killers
person who kills victims inn a shot period of time
definition of mass murderers
person who kills group of people simultaneously
definition of forensic toxicologist
analyze blood and tissues to determine the presence or absence of poisons and drugs
definition of forensic odontologist
identify the deceased and evaluate any bite marks that may be present
definition of forensic anthropologist
evaluate skeletal remains
definition of forensic entomologist/biologist
evaluate flora and fauna to determine time and place of death
definition of forensic psychiatrist and psychologist
evaluate the accused person, identify behavioral profiles of victim and/or subject
definition of presumptive testing of bloodstain evidence
determines whether or not evidence is actually blood; many of these bloodstain tests use a specific recant that interacts with hemoglobin; produces either a light/color change
definition of Kastle-Meyer blood screening test
evidence stain is swabbed and sprayed with ethanol and then sprayed with a pH indicator that reacts with hemoglobin
definition of Luminol testing of blood evidence
luminal uses process of chemiluminescence using chemicals to create a light reaction; luminal reacts with hemoglobin and produces a blue green light
definition of semen
semifluid mixture of cells, enzymes and other organic/inorganic material
definition of spermatozoon
sperm cell
definition of drip stains/patterns
caused by force of gravity only, also includes drip traits and flow patterns
definition of stains/patterns
blood contaminated objects contacting a surface; created when a wet, bloody surface contacts another surface; recognizable image of all or a portion of the original surface may be observed in the pattern; transfer bloodstain can be further subdivided into: contact bleeding, swipes of wipes; spatter patterns (impact, cast off, etc.) = liquid blood, internally or externally, subjected to a force greater than gravity; blood spatter patterns created when an exposed blood source is subjected to an action or force greater than gravity; size, shape, and number of resultant blood stains will depend generally on the amount of force applied to the liquid blood
definition of directionality of bloodstains
when droplet impacts a surface at a perpendicular (90 degree) angle the resulting bloodstain will appear circular; when a blood droplet impacts a surface at less than a 90 degree angle, the resulting bloodstain will ave an elongated or elliptical appearance; in addition, the droplet will identify the direction of travel
definition of forensic anthropology
specialize in the research, application of techniques used to determine age at death, sex, population, affinity, stature, abnormalities/pathology; anthropology can be useful in mass murder cases; can show premortem events, taphonomy, perpetrator behavior
definition of determination of gender
gender determination is difficult in round individuals because the bones haven’t developed yet; males are usually bigger than females: bones are larger, areas devoted to muscle attachment are larger and more rigged; ethnicity can affect how one’s skeleton looks; pelvic area is reliable for telling gender; female: wide and shallow (short); male: bigger mastoid process, brow ridges
definition of age
can be determined by knowing whether or not epiphyses have fused and which haven’t; bones grow, fuse together as you get older; after the age of 20, bones are done growing and age must be determined by degenerate changes in the body; pubis symphysis, 4th rib, skull (sutures)
definition of ancestry
look for skeletal features that occur more commonly in certain races: Asian, European, African
definition of stature
a person’s normal height; measure legs and arms and put measurements in a formula
definition of individual characteristics
genetic or nutritional disorders, diseases and infractions or heated fractures can distinguish individuals
definition of osteogenesis imperfecta
brittle bone disease; can show antemortem medial records
