The importance of death investigations Flashcards
Forensic Microbiology
the study of microorganisms (like bacteria or viruses) to help solve crimes.
used to track diseases, determine time of death, or link suspects to a crime using microbes from the body or environment.
Forensic Anthropology
the study of human bones to solve crimes.
helps identify a person’s age, sex, and height from their skeleton and can show if there was trauma or how someone died.
Forensic Botany
the study of plants and plant materials to help solve crimes.
It involves analyzing things like pollen, seeds, or leaves found at a crime scene to link a suspect to the location or time of the crime.
Wildlife Forensics
Focuses on abuse & poaching of wildlife, hunting out of season or in excess of limits
the use of scientific methods to investigate crimes involving animals.
helps identify species, determine causes of death, and track illegal hunting, poaching, or trafficking of wildlife. This can involve analyzing animal remains, fur, or DNA to solve cases.
Environmental Forensics
the investigation of pollution or contamination in the environment to determine its source.
involves analyzing soil, water, and air samples to trace chemicals, toxins, or pollutants back to responsible parties in cases like oil spills or illegal dumping.
(Barely known)
Acceptable terms for the dead?
Body
Cadaver
Set of remains
Skeleton
Corpse
Why is it important to understand the events surrounding death and their timing?
Determines the manner of death
Establishes whether a crime might have been committed
Pallor Mortis ?
Happens in the first ___-__ mins after death?
paleness which happens first 15-20 mins after death
Oxygen content drops dramatically after heart stops
Livor Mortis is also called ?
postmortem lividity, hypostasis, or suggillation
Livor Mortis is ?
settling of blood due to gravity in lower portion of body causing a purplish to red coloration to skin
Algor Mortis occurs during first ___ after death?
24 hours
Algor Mortis?
drop in body temp. following death
Rigor Mortis reaches stiffness __ hours after death?
72 hours
Rigor Mortis?
Stiffening of body especially limb because of unregulated skeletal muscle contractions
Decomposition ?
Reduction of complex matters into simpler forms
