Forensics Science SkillsUSA Flashcards
for the paper test
What are the stages of death?
There is 4, all ending in the Latin phrase mortis (“of death”).
Pallor mortis, livor mortis, algor mortis and rigor mortis
What is pallor mortis?
Pallor mortis is Latin for “paleness of death”
The first stage of death occurring generally 15-25 minutes posthumously, causing an after-death paleness that is most prevalent on pale skin.
What is livor mortis?
Livor mortis is also referred to as a postmortem lividity, hypostasis, or suggillation. It is also Latin for “Bruise of death.”
The second stage of death, it normally occurs 20-30 minutes posthumously, but isn’t observed until 2 hours after death. Blood, due to not being pumped by the heart, sinks slowly throughout the body, causing a bruise color to spread throughout the body. The decolorization will not pool in areas on the ground.
What is algor mortis?
Algor mortis is Latin for “coldness of death.”
The third stage after death where the body temperature matches the ambient temperature of where it is located. For example, a body in a climate colder than it will become colder, however a body in a climate hotter than it will acclimate. External factors heavily impact the change aswell, such as stability of the weather, the clothes the person is wearing, or diseases/drugs.
What is rigor mortis?
Rigor mortis is Latin for “stiffness of death.”
The fourth stage after death, and can occur as soon as four hours posthumously, it is the stiffening of limbs and muscles of a corpse due to changes in the body. It is not permanent, and begins to pass hours after onset; typically no longer than eight hours at the areas “room temperature.”
What are the stages of decomposition?
Autolysis, Bloating, active decay, advanced decay, and dry remains.
What is autolysis?
The fresh stage of the corpse, normally after undergoing the four stages of death.
What is bloat?
The second stage of decompisiton, caused by the digestive system micoorganisms digesting body tissue, leading them to excrete gasses which cause bloating and foul-smelling chemicals. Furthermore, cells break down, which can cause the top layer of skin to slip off the bone. Additionally, the microogranisms can cause purgle fluid to leak out of the nose and mouth.
What is active decay?
The third stage of decompisition, where the body tissue liquifies and the skin blackens. Blowflies lay their eggs in the corpse at this stage, leaving them to hatch into maggots which can give a measure of time since death. Furthermore, corpse wax can be formed at this stage.
What is advanced decay?
The fourth stage of decomposition, where the remains are discolored (or blackened) and undergo and complete Putrefaction, where the cells liquidize along with the body decaying. As the body decays, it will change the soil chemistry around it as it release gasses.
What is the dry stage?
The final stage of decompisition, occurs once bloating stops and the remaining soft tissue collaspes on itself. The remains begin to skeletonize.
What can affect decomposition?
Temperature, humitidty, oxygen avalibility, if the body was buried, if the body was in a wet enviroment, body size, and cause of death.
What is a blank sample?
What are comparision samples?
What are control samples?
What is bindle paper?
What does bindle paper collect?
