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Skeleton Keys > Post Mortem Interval (PMI) > Flashcards

Post Mortem Interval (PMI) Flashcards

1
Q

post mortem interval

A

time since death

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2
Q

what happens when the time frame of finding a body increases?

A

the specific time of death decreases

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3
Q

what happens in the first 24 hours of death?

A

mortis changes occur; because it is within the first 24 hours, the time of death can be more specific

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4
Q

algor mortis

A

cooling of body temperature

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5
Q

livor mortis

A

settling of blood, causes discoloration in the skin

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6
Q

rigor mortis

A

amount of muscle stiffness

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7
Q

vitreous humors

A

changes in the eye fluid

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8
Q

who is called after 24 hours of death?

A
  • forensic entomologist
  • forensic botanist
  • forensic anthropologist
    • uses decomposition, skeletonization, and forensic taphonomy
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9
Q

two factors of decomposition

A

autolysis and putrefaction

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10
Q

autolysis

A
  • degeneration of body tissue by digestive fluids in the intestinal tract
  • digest the body like food, causing destruction of internal organs
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11
Q

putrefaction

A
  • breakdown of biological elements due to the proliferation of microorganisms normally present in the body
  • occurs due to unhindered production of bacteria which eat away at tissues
  • causes bloating
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12
Q

what are the stages of decomposition?

A
  • fresh death
  • bloating
  • active decay
  • skeletonization
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13
Q

what factors affect decomposition?

A

temperature, humidity, and accessibility

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14
Q

what happens to remains in warm areas?

A

display more insect activity and decay faster

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15
Q

what happens to remains in dry areas?

A

they decompose slower (desicate)

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16
Q

what happens to remains in open areas/with open wounds?

A

attract animals and decompose faster

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17
Q

who eats the body first?

A
  1. maggots
  2. beetles
  3. carnivors
  4. rodents
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18
Q

what do adult and larvae beetles eat?

A

larvae eat decaying wet tissues, and adults eat drier tissues

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19
Q

how do insects affect PMI?

A
  • insects appear in predictable patterns

- their lifecycles are used to predict PMI

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20
Q

which two insects ratios can you use to predict PMI?

A

beetles and flies

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21
Q

how many months after death do cheese flies appear?

A

3-6 months

22
Q

what can insects help determine?

A
  • the time since death
  • season since death
  • geological location
  • personal habits of the decedent
23
Q

what happens to remains within the first week?

A
  • bloating and collapse
  • maggots on face, predatory beetles
  • skin slippage
  • bones become exposed
24
Q

what happens to remains within the first month?

A
  • dermestid beetles
  • bones exposed
  • mummification (dry climates)
  • saponification (wet climates)
25
Q

saponification

A

hydrolyzed body fat; seen in decomposition within the first month in wet climates

26
Q

what happens to remains within the first year?

A
  • skeleton fully exposed
  • sun bleaching
  • moss and algae on bones
  • rodent gnawing
  • hard to give exact time of death
27
Q

what happens to remains within the first decade?

A
  • delamination
  • rodent modification
  • longitudinal cracks
  • root growth through bones
28
Q

what is the anatomical position?

A
  • standing
  • face forward
  • arms at the side of body
  • palms forward w/ thumbs on the outside
  • toes forward
29
Q

what are the three anatomical planes?

A
  • sagital
  • coronal
  • transvers
30
Q

sagital plane

A
  • midline

- divides the body into symmetrical left and right halves

31
Q

coronal plane

A

divides body into anterior and posterior halves

right angle of the sagital

32
Q

transverse plane

A
  • passes through at any moment at any height

- is perpendicular to the other planes

33
Q

when viewing a subject, what are the directions in correlation to?

A
  • right and left of the subject, not the observer
  • if the area of description is on your left, you would state it was on the right because that is the position of the subject
34
Q

superior

A

towards the head in a humanoid body

35
Q

inferior

A

away from the head

36
Q

posterior

A

toward the back, dorsal

37
Q

anterior

A

toward the front, ventral

38
Q

medial

A

toward the midline

39
Q

lateral

A

away from the midline

40
Q

proximal

A
  • has to do with the limbs

- nearest the trunk

41
Q

distal

A
  • has to do with the limbs

- further from the trunk

42
Q

palmar

A

palm side of the hand

43
Q

plantar

A

sole of the foot. what touches the ground

44
Q

dorsal

A

top of the foot, back of the hand

45
Q

superficial

A

close to the surface

46
Q

deep

A

away from the surface

47
Q

bilateral

A

on both sides of the body

48
Q

unilateral

A

on one side of the body

49
Q

ipsilateral

A

occurring on the same side of the body

50
Q

contralateral

A

occurring on opposite sides of the body

Skeleton Keys (26 decks)

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