L.12 Forensic perspective Flashcards
L.O
- To gain an understanding of how anatomy is used in forensic medicine and science
- To gain an understanding of the work of the different types of forensic workers.
- To understand what constitutes the biological profile and to give examples
- To be able to discuss the different type of trauma
- To give examples of ways of estimating postmortem interval
- To communicate the above content effectively in both written and oral forms
Forensics
- Relating to the application of scientific methods and techniques to the investigation of crime anf other legal issues
Coroners
Hold investigations/ inquests of sudden, unexpected or unnatural deaths
- Identify date, place, circumstances and medical cause of death.
Forensics pathologists
- Medical doctors specialising in pathology and forensics pathology
- Autopsies and postmortems
- Work closely with police and investigative agencies.
Forensic dentists
- Specialise in identififcation of death using dental charting
- Study of structure and disease of teeth
- Chart and X-ray the dentition of the dead then compare to radiographs from dentits of missing person.
Forensic anthopology
- Aim is to help match unidentified skeletons with missing people
- does NOT provide a positive match like DNA or fingerprints
- Provive a biological profile of the dead person.
Assessing the Biological profile
- Ancestry/ race
- Sex
- Age
- Stature/ height
Assessing the Biological profile: Ancestry
DNA:
- Mitochondrial DNA is extraced from remaining bone fragments
- mtDNA Haplogroup is used to identify common ancestry background based on mitochondrial genome.
DNA phenotyping:
- Predicts persons phenotype using genetic info
- Only gives probability, never exact.
Assessing the Biological profile: Sex estimation
- It is hard identify sex of children due to pre puberty
- In adults the pelvis is most useful, then skull.
In females, the iliac crests are splayed out more for child birth - In the skull, muscle attachments are the key identifiers
Assessing the Biological profile: Age at death
Children:
- Dental eruption (milk teeth)
Adolescence:
- Dental eruption and bone fission
Adults:
- Hard to identify after 40 years
- Changes in pubic symphysis
- Fusion of cranial structures
- Degrees of oesteoarthritis
Assessing the Biological profile: Older age
- Osteoarthritis in vertebral column
- Correlation of age and arthritis
Assessinf function and mechanical stress on spine
Assessing the Biological profile: Height
Important marker of person identification in:
- Individual forensics cases
- Mass graves
- Differentiating people
Dependant on long bone and height correlation
Trauma
May assist in manner of death and identify weapon used.
Antemortem
Perimortem
- Blund or sharp force
- Ballistic / projectile
Antemortem trauma
- Identification in child abuse
- Occurs well before death, where healing has occured (partial or complete)
Perimortem trauma
- Occurs around time of death
- Fractures are sharp and jaggered and deformed with no healing
- Bones are still full of organic material and collagen
- Perimortem period may last for weeks depending on environment
