Forensic Taphonomy

Question 1

What is forensic taphonomy?

Answer 1

It investigates physical, chemical and biological processes of human and animal decomposition and associated evidence

Question 2

What are the related disciplines of forensic taphonomy?

Answer 2

Decomposition chemistry, Botany and Palynology, Microbiology, Fibres and textiles, Pathology, Entomology and Archaeology and Anthropology

Question 3

Define the term death

Answer 3

Irreversible cessation of circulation of blood in body or of all functions of the brain of a person. It is a process

Question 4

What is cell death?

Answer 4

Body dies cell by cell

Question 5

What is somatic death?

Answer 5

Brain death

Question 6

What are the 5 stages of Decomposition?

Answer 6

Fresh, Bloating, Active decay, Advanced decay and Skeletonisation

Question 7

What are the characteristics of fresh decomposition?

Answer 7

Immediately after death, bacteria feeds off of intestines outwards, (Autolysis )Self destruction of cells and tissue, loss on skin colour, marbling, blisters and skin slippage, greenish discolouration on abdomen. Liver, Algor and Rigor Mortis

Question 8

What is Liver mortis?

Answer 8

Lividity or blanching, Accumulation of blood due to gravity, evident in 30mins-2 hrs and becomes fixed within 9-12 hrs

Question 9

What is rigor mortis?

Answer 9

Chemical process causing rigidity in muscles, conversion of ATP to ADP and lactic acid-locking chemical bridges, breakdown of tissues (putrefaction) releases rigor, begins in face and travels down body, evident in 2-6 hrs and fully developed in 12hrs. Dissapears in 24-48 hrs

Question 10

What is algor mortis?

Answer 10

Cooling of body temperature to equilibriate to surrounding temperature

Question 11

What are the characteristics of Bloating?

Answer 11

Occurs 36-72 hrs after death, initiated by autolytic process, degradation of macromolecules, gas and fluid cause bloating, dark discolouration, fluid blisters, temperature increase, purging of fluids, distinctive odours, decomposition chemistry.

Question 12

What is decomposition chemistry?

Answer 12

Carbs break down to sugars, fungi decomposes to organic acids, can decompose sugar to organic acids and further to water and co2, also produces alcohols and gases. Proteins are broken down by bacterial enxymes to amino acids, produces ammonia (deamination), biogenic amines(decarboxylation), Hydrogen sulphide (Desulfhydration) and lipids oxidise to aldehydes/ketones

Question 13

What are volatile organic compounds?

Answer 13

Alcohols, carboxylic acids, aromatics, sulphides, aldehyes and ketones

Question 14

What are the characteristics of Active decay?

Answer 14

Discoloured natural fluids and liquified tissue forced from orifices by internal gas build up. Breaking of skin, remains deflate

Question 15

What is a cadaver decomposition island?

Answer 15

Muscus sheath froms around cadaver, bacterial and insect activity, incorporated into surrounding environments

Question 16

What are the characteristics of Advanced decay?

Answer 16

Insect activity reduces, maggots migrate away from remains, soil changes in pH and death of vegetation

Question 17

What are the characteristics of skeletonisation?

Answer 17

Disintegration of soft tissue, bone exposure, hard tissue remaining. Bare bones lose greasiness

Question 18

What is the purpose of forensic taphonomy?

Answer 18

Estimate PMI,, Decomposition rates/patterns, Determine cause and manner of death, identify deceased and locate victim remains

Question 19

What are the ways of preservation?

Answer 19

Mummification (dehydration of soft tissue, skin looks leathery), Mummification in peat (very acidic water environment, low temperature, no o2, Bones dissolve, skin and internal organs preserved), Burial with lime (highly alkaline, slow decompostion), Adicopere(moist environment, preserve soft tissue and organs), Fossilisation