Pathology Flashcards

1
Q

forensic pathology

A

subfield that focuses on determining cause of death for persons who died suddenly, unexpectedly, or violently

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

external examination during autopsy

A
  • inspection of external surface
  • weight and measurement
  • signs of decomposition
  • associated objects
  • note injuries, scars, and tattoos
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

opening the trunk during an autopsy

A
  • opening up the midsection
  • Y incision
  • sternal plate removed
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

examination of internal organs in an autopsy

A

organs are removed, examined, weighted, and dissected

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

tissues during an autopsy

A
  • sections of diseased or injured tissues and preserved for further studies
  • specimens for toxicology testing
  • DNA analysis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

how are tissues preserved?

A
  • fixed in formaldehyde
  • encased in paraffin
  • stained
  • mounted on glass slide
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

specimens for toxicology testing

A
  • urine
  • blood
  • bile
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

DNA analysis during autopsy

A
  • blood
  • hairs pulled from head
  • non preserved tissue
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

removal of the brain during autopsy

A
  • cut made ear to ear along the back of the head
  • skin folded over and a stryker saw is used to cut through the cranial vault
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

final tasks of an autopsy

A
  • return organs
  • sew skin back in place
  • wash
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

blunt force injury - bruise

A
  • blood escapes from damaged vessels
  • many factors affect degree of bruising
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

age of bruise

A
  • hemoglobin -> biliverdin -> bilirubin
  • blue / red -> purple -> green -> light green -> yellow
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

blunt force injuries

A
  • sufficient force to overstretch the skin to the point of tearing
  • most common in skin directly over bone
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

sharp force trauma - incised wound

A
  • clean edges
  • no bridges
  • longer than deep
  • lack of bruising
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

sharp force trauma - stab wound

A
  • puncture wound
  • deeper than wide
  • some bruising
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

aging wounds

A
  • injuries, day before death show signs of healing
  • very hard to distinguish wounds created before, during, and after death
17
Q

asphyxia

A
  1. cells don’t receive oxygen
  2. cells receive oxygen but cannot use it
  3. cells are unable to eliminate carbon dioxide
18
Q

what affects the degree of brusing

A
  • force of hit
  • material hit with
  • area of body hit
  • medications
  • blood disorders
  • age
19
Q

categories of asphyxia

A
  • airway obstruction
  • neck/ chest compression
  • postural/ positional
  • environmental
  • poisoning
20
Q

pathological features of asphyxiation

A
  • cyanosis
  • petechiae
21
Q

cyanosis

A
  • condition of being blue
  • no oxygen makes hemoglobin darker
22
Q

petechiae

A
  • blood vessels bursting
  • comes from pressure on veins or arteries
23
Q

hanging

A

ligature furrows elevate to the back and side of the neck, behind the ears

24
Q

strangulation

A
  • ligature furrows lower, horizontal, completely encircles the neck
  • back of the neck has trauma
25
Q

how to determine if death was before or after a fire?

A
  • soot in LUNGS (not just airways
  • saturation level of carboxyhemoglobin > 10%
26
Q

how does CO kill you?

A
  • hemoglobin carries oxygen and carbon dioxide
  • carbon monoxide binds very tightly to hemoglobin
  • oxygen and carbon dioxide can no longer be carried
27
Q

gun shot wounds: entrance vs exit wound

A

exit woulds are always larger than entrance wounds

28
Q

contact range of shot

A
  • muzzle imprint
  • marrow ring of soot on skin
  • ballooning / laceration of surrounding skin
29
Q

intermediate range of shot

A
  • wider zone of powder stippling
  • lack laceration
  • lack of muzzle imprint
30
Q

distant range of shot

A
  • lack stippling
  • hole = caliber size