Forensic pathology Flashcards
What is a contact wound and what are the findings?
Gunshot where muzzle is in contact with the target. In these wounds, gas and gunshot residue are forced into the wound and there is no external gunshot residue. Burning from the muzzle may be seen around the wound.
What is a close range gunshot wound? What are the findings?
Close range for a handgun is generally within 6 inches. Findings include fouling (dustlike powder grains that can be wiped off the body) and stippling (pinpoint abrasion injuries that can not be wiped off).
What is an intermediate gunshot wound? What are the findings?
Intermediate range for handgun is 6 to 30 inches. Fouling (gun power grains that can be wiped off the body) is not seen. Stippling (pinpoint abrasion injuries that can not be wiped off) is present.
What is a distant gunshot wound? What are the findings?
Distant gunshot wounds are approximately 30 inches from the entrance site. These do not show stippling or fouling.
What is a laceration? What are the findings?
A laceration is a blunt force injury that leads to tearing of the skin. Tissue bridging is a characteristic finding (these appear to be small strings running from one side of the wound to the other). Stab wounds are different as they are from sharp force and do not have tissue bridging.
What is a stab wound? How is an incision different?
Sharp force injury where the depth of penetration is deeper than the wound is long. Incisions have a shorter depth of penetration and a longer cutaneous defect. Both have smooth, straight edges with no tissue bridging.
What is a cause of death? How does it differ from the manner of death?
Cause of death is the injury or disease responsible for the death (i.e. blunt force trauma, cancer, heart attack, etc). Manner of death are the circumstances surrounding the cause of death (i.e. accident, natural, homicide, suicide).
What are the possible manners of death?
Homicide Suicide Natural Acidental Undetermined
What ocular finding can be seen in infant deaths due to shaking?
Retinal hemorrhages are the characteristic finding; petechiae (small hemorrhages on the conjunctiva) are NOT seen as a direct result of shaking.
What is ligature strangulation? What is hanging?
Ligature strangulation is strangulation due to a force other than gravity (i.e. someone strangling another person with their hands).
Hanging is strangulation where the force that causes tightening is gravity.
What is tache noir?
A dark discoloration of the eye caused by the eye being partially open after death. The part that is open will turn the dark color; pulling up the eyelid will reveal white sclerae in the area covered by the eyelid. This is a post-mortem artifact.
