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Intro To Forensics > Module 2 Death Investigation > Flashcards

Module 2 Death Investigation Flashcards

1
Q

Pathologist

A

-Determines cause of disease or trauma based on appearance and chemistry of bodies or tissues

-Have a doctorates with a 4/5 year residency & pathology fellowship

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2
Q

Medical Examiner

A

-Doctors or pathologists
-Appointed by jurisdiction

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3
Q

Coroner

A

-Elected by jurisdiction
-Education/training optional

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4
Q

Death Investigator

A

-Investigate deaths at the scene under the jurisdiction of the coroner or ME
—Collect scene context needed to determine cause of death
—Work parallel with CSI & law enforcement

-Requires CSI training and basic medical knowledge

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5
Q

The manners of death

A

—Is how the person died
Suicidal
Homicidal
Accidental
Undetermined
Natural

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6
Q

Causes of death (or mechanism)

A

-Can be many things, such as heart attack, asphyxiation , etc

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7
Q

Autopsy

A

Determination of manner and cause of death

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8
Q

Antemortem

A

Something that is antemortem is something that happened BEFORE DEATH

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9
Q

Postmortem

A

After death

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10
Q

Perimortem

A

Near time of death; not clearly post or antemortem

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11
Q

What is searched for during an external examination?

A

Physical features: sex, eye color, etc
Identifying features (tattoos, scars, etc)
Wounds
Photography used during examination

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12
Q

What’s done during an internal examination?

A

Open body using y-incision
Remove organs & visually inspect them
Organs will be weighed
Sections/samples collected

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13
Q

Microscopy

A

Examining small slides of tissue samples taken during an autopsy

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14
Q

Toxicology

A

Detecting chemicals present in the body (usually blood or urine samples)

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15
Q

Algor mortis

A

Body cooling down after death

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16
Q

Livor Mortis/Lividity

A

The discoloration of skin after death, caused by blood pooling at your lowest point

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17
Q

Blanching

A

Whitish discoloration of skin caused by applied pressure

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18
Q

Blood becomes fixed after….

A

12 hours

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19
Q

Rigor Mortis

A

-Caused as the body runs out of ATP
-Temporary fusion of muscle proteins
-Starts with small muscles (like eyelids)
-Releases as decomposition sets in

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20
Q

Other PMI estimates

A

Chemistry of the vitreous humor (parts of the eye)

Colonization of insects

Rate of decomposition
-Mummification (dry climate)
-Adipocere formation (wet environment)

Demineralization of bones

21
Q

Types of Trauma

A

Mechanical (force)
Electrical (electricity)
Thermal (too hot/cold)
Chemical (injections or consumption)
Asphyxia (loss of oxygen to brain)

22
Q

When reconstructing trauma, what do we take into consideration?

A

-Type of damage
-Location/distribution of trauma
-Action required to produce trauma
-What instrument caused it?
-Was damage fatal?

23
Q

Closed Trauma

A

Trauma that doesn’t break the skin

24
Q

Mechanical trauma is

A

Trauma caused by force applied to the body

25
Q

Tensile force

A

Force applied by pulling two things apart

26
Q

Compression force

A

Force applied by pressing down on an area

27
Q

Wound types

A

Closed: skin intact
Open: skin broken

28
Q

Types of forces

A

Blunt force
Penetrating force
Sharp force

29
Q

Fixation

A

The hardening of proteins to preserve tissues

30
Q

What is typically collected to test for drug usage?

A

Blood & urine

31
Q

Lacerations

A

Typically caused by blunt objects (ripping open rather than clean incisions)

32
Q

Stippling

A

Pattern of unburned powder that penetrates the skin

33
Q

MDI

A

collects information relative to a death; has knowledge both medical and forensics/law

34
Q

Official confirmation of death is generally performed by

A

Medical examiner or physician

35
Q

The death investigator must record what information regarding a death?

A

-Who died
-When the body was discovered
-What events transpired
-Where the body was discovered
-How the discovery was made

36
Q

Suspicious deaths

A

Homicides
Suicides
Accidental deaths
Equivocal deaths

37
Q

Rigor Mortis is _____ in cool environments and ____ in warm environments

A

Slower, faster

38
Q

The body remains in rigor for how long?

A

24-36 hours

39
Q

What occurs as the rigor phase ends?

A

-Abdominal skin turns green
-Eyes bulge
-Tongue protrudes

40
Q

The bloating stage involves

A

Skin sloughing and degradation of blood

41
Q

Subcutaneous marbling

A

Vessels become visible due to degraded blood staining them

42
Q

Stages of decomposition

A

-Fresh
-Bloat
-Decay
-Advanced Decay
-Skeletal

43
Q

The system of medicolegal investigation of death is triggered by…

A

a questionable death being reported

44
Q

Injury takes ____ over disease in determining cause of death

A

precedence

45
Q

Postmortem Interval

A

Time that has passed since death

46
Q

How long does it take rigor mortis to set in?

A

About 4 hours

47
Q

How long does it take lucidity to go away?

A

About 36 hours

48
Q

How quickly does a body cool off in an environment of about 20 C°?

A

About 1.5°C per hour for the first 8 hours

Intro To Forensics (19 decks)

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