Forensics

Question 1

What is proximate cause of death?

Answer 1

Actual true cause of death (legal definition)

Question 2

What is the mechanism of death?

Answer 2

Final pathophysiologic event (sometimes called immediate)

Question 3

What is the manner of death?

Answer 3

Based upon everything known about the hx of the deceased, the circumstances surrounding their death and all elements of the autopsy

Question 4

What are the categories for manner of death?

Answer 4

Natural (death due to disease or disorder; not due to foul play) 
Accident 
Suicide 
Homicide  
Undetermined

Question 5

What is the difference between homicide and murder?

Answer 5

Homicide is the life of the descendent was taken by a person or entity
Murder is a law enforcement/legal charge

Question 6

Who can certify a natural death?

Answer 6

Any licensed physician

Question 7

Who must investigate other manners of death such as homicide?

Answer 7

Legally appointed medical examiner physicians or certain jurisdictions, coroners, or justices of the peace

Question 8

If a death appears to be natural but there is doubt or foul play who must evaluate the decedent?

Answer 8

The ME

Question 9

What is rigor mortis?

Answer 9

Stiffening of muscle groups after death

Tends to occur within hours but manifestations are modified (slowed or accelerated) by ambient and/or fluctuating temps

Question 10

What is algor mortis?

Answer 10

Cooling of the body after death
Possibly relevant and calculable based upon a steady known ambient temperature
Rarely can be done with great precision

Question 11

What is livor mortis?

Answer 11

Movement of circulating blood to dependent areas of the body
After a period of time lividity becomes fixed
Can be useful in ascertaining movement of a body within or from the place of death

Question 12

What are the major forms of body decomposition?

Answer 12

Putrefactive, mummification, adipocere formation

Question 13

What is putrefactive decomposition?

Answer 13

Typically occurs in most temperature settings

Increasing features of discoloration, tissue softening/liquefaction, gas production and body bloating

Question 14

What is mummification decomposition?

Answer 14

In very dry and climate settings

Question 15

What is adipocere formation?

Answer 15

Death and immersion within a body of water with saponification of epidermal surfaces

Question 16

What is the goal of forensic autopsy?

Answer 16

To render a proximate cause and manner of death via a careful medicolegal investigation employed to obtain the acquisition of justice in the service of the public

Question 17

What is the goal of a hospital autopsy?

Answer 17

Centers upon documenting extent of natural disease or the existence of disease that may have contributed to death but was undiagnosed prior to patient demise

Question 18

The duty of an ME is to who?

Answer 18

The public they serve in a medicolegal/acquisition of justice capacity

Question 19

What are abrasions?

Answer 19

Damage to overlying skin/epidermis

Question 20

What are lacerations?

Answer 20

Splitting of skin with hemorrhagic bridges in depths

Always caused by blunt force

Question 21

What are contusions?

Answer 21

Intact skin with hemorrhage bridges in depths

Often due to blunt force

Question 22

What are incise wounds?

Answer 22

Generally due to edged instruments such as razors, knives, etc

Question 23

The appearance of a yellow color on a contusion is typically associated with what?

Answer 23

A contusion over 18 hours old

Question 24

What does range refer to?

Answer 24

The distance of the end of the gun barrel from the entry wound on the individual

Question 25

What are contact/close wounds?

Answer 25

Marginal abrasion
Soot/gun powder in the depths of the wound
Contact may have muzzle or sight burn stigmata

Question 26

Describe intermediate wounds

Answer 26

More emerges from the end of the firearm than the bullet

Powder tattooing or stippling occurs (powder from around the bullet burns onto the skin)

Question 27

Describe a distant wound

Answer 27

Marginal abrasion
No surrounding depositions
Depths of the wound are clean of particles, dirt and soot

Question 28

Describe an entry wound

Answer 28

Outer table sharply circumscribed

Inner table beveled

Question 29

Describe an exit wound

Answer 29

Inner table sharply circumscribed

Outer table beveled