forensic & labatory medicine Flashcards
what is the sample acceptance policy
the policy which means you must know vaguely what is being tested
a test has to be used to rule out or confirm a diagnosis
what are some labatory medicine specialties s
clinical biochemistry
immunology
microbiology
haematology
what are some reasons for requesting a labatory investigation
screening
diagnosis
monitoring
prognosis
why is it important to adhere to the acceptance policy
It allows the laboratory to produce the right result, on the right patient, at the right time.
Allowing clinicians to give the right treatment in a timely manner!
what is POCT
lab tests that can preformed by non-lab proffesionals
CLINICAL setting
what is POCT useful for
Improved turnaround time
Potential for better monitoring of certain conditions
Smaller sample volumes
Less clinically invasive
what are some examples of use of laboratory tests in the patient pathway
urine dip sticks blood glucose monitoring blood gases urine analysis blood test gram staining
what is blunt force injury
impact with a blunt injury
what are examples of blunt force injuries
contusions (bruises)
abrasions (graze, scratch)
lacerations (cut and tear)
what is a contusion
a bruise
what is a abrasion
a graze / scratch
what is a laceration
a tear/ split of skin DUE TO CRUSSING
what are sharp force wounds
Injury caused by any weapon with sharp cutting edge
superficial or penetrating
what are the 3 dorms of sharp wounds
incised wounds
stab wounds
patterned stab wounds
what are incised wounds
sharp force with a slashing motion
what are stab wounds
penetrating injuries
wound DEPTH is GREATER than LENGTH
what are the implications of a blunt trauma
other than surface level stuff have to think about internal bleeding and injury caused by non penetrating injuries
broken bones
what are patented stab wounds
stab wounds which have specific shapes due to the object that caused the injury
how can you distinguish post mortem injuries
lack of vital reaction
partchmented - no bleeding from the injury
what are the two mechanisms of injury
force =
Kinetic energy = ½ mass x velocity2
AREA that the force acts over
what are the manners of injury causation
suicidal, accidental, homicidal
what is mechanical force
a force that involves the contact of two objects
what can excessive mechanical force cause
Compression
Traction = stretch
Torsion = twisting
Tangential (shearing)
what is an example of a traction injury
injury to the brachial plexus
what are the implications of a sharp injury
more likely to be homicide or suicide
less broken bones
stab = internal damage
incised = superficial blood vessels
how can time of death be determined
WITH FUCK ALL ACCURACY
what are the early post mortem changes
Temperature degradation
Hypostasis (PM lividity)
Rigor mortis
what are late post mortem changes
Decomposition and Autolysis
Mummification
Adipocere
Skeletonisation
what is temperature degradation
the cooling of the human body (sigmoid curve)
what are the rough rules of thumb for time of death
0-12hrs body temp - 1oC per hr
24hrs - rigor mortis and hypostasis
48hrs - putrefaction
months to years Adipocere, mummification, skeletonisation
what factors effect body cooling
6
clothing/covers
ambient temp (season - central heating)
air movement - fast moving = cooling effect
medium around the body = bath or river
posture = curled up slows cooling
haemorrhage - severe = rapid cooling
what is hypostasis
post mortem lividity
circulation stops so gravity pools blood to the lowest accessible area
what can post mortem levity cause
pressure pallor
where the imprints of some objects are imprinted as blood cannot access that area (TV Remote)
what is Rigor Mortis
Stiffening of muscle fibres leading to rigidity of the musculature and fixation of the joints
Due to the reduction of ATP within the muscles after death
what are the two sub units of decomposition
putrefaction and autolysis
what is putrefaction
microbiocidal degradation
what is autolysis
the destruction of the body by its own enzymes
what is mummification
DRY decomposition
body essential dries out
preservation
what is adipocere
occurs in DAMP and WET conditions
alters fatty tissue into very hard and brittle material
what is skeletonisation
when all soft tissue has been removed
by PM animals
to larvae
