Key Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Terms

Question 1

The large pattern of blood that is created when blood escapes an artery under pressure; the increase and decrease in blood pressure is apparent.

Answer 1

Arterial Gushing

Question 2

The angle at which a blood droplet strikes a surface.

Answer 2

Angle of Impact

Question 3

Large patters created under pressure, but with less volume and usually more distributive evidence of blood pressure rising and falling.

Answer 3

Arterial Spurts

Question 4

A mass of blood and other contaminants caused through clotting mechanisms

Answer 4

Clot

Question 5

Blood that has been thrown from a secondary object ( weapon or hand ) into a target other than the impact site

Answer 5

Cast-Off Stains

Question 6

Characteristic patterns present when blood drips into standing, wet blood

Answer 6

Drop Patterns

Question 7

Blood which is spattered onto a target, as a result of breathing; typically, this occurs when an injury is sustained to the throat, mouth, or airway

Answer 7

Excitatory Blood

Question 8

Usually the point on the body that received the blow or applied force, from which the blood was shed

Answer 8

Impact Site

Question 9

The point in space where the blood spatter come from

Answer 9

Origin

Question 10

The droplet from which waterline spatter originated

Answer 10

Parent Drop

Question 11

Blood under pressure that strikes a target

Answer 11

Projected Blood

Question 12

Small drop of blood that break off from the parent spatter when the parent droplet strikes a target surface

Answer 12

Satellite Spatters

Question 13

A pattern that helps to place an object or body in the scene; normally, the area in question lacks blood even though areas surrounding it show blood

Answer 13

Shadowing/ Ghosting / Void

Question 14

The pattern left when an object moves through a partially dried stain, removing part of the blood, but leaving of the outline of the stain intact

Answer 14

Skeletonized Stain

Question 15

Bloodstains created from the application of force or energy to the area where the blood is

Answer 15

Spatter

Question 16

The pointed edges of a stain that radiate out to form the spatter

Answer 16

Spines

Question 17

Spatter created when a volume of blood in excess of 1 mL strikes a surface at a low to medium velocity

Answer 17

Splash

Question 18

The transfer of blood onto a target surface by a bloody object that is usually moving laterally

Answer 18

Swipe

Question 19

The platform created when a wet, bloody object comes in contact with a target surface, leaving a pattern, that has the features of the object making it useful for identifying the object

Answer 19

Transfer Pattern

Question 20

The surface where the blood ends up

Answer 20

Target

Question 21

Pattern created when a secondary target moves through an existing wet blood stain on some other object

Answer 21

Wipe