Time Of Death Vocab Flashcards
Autolysis
The spontaneous breakdown of cells as they self digest
Cause of Death
The immediate reason for a persons death such as heart attack
Death
The cessation or end of life
Decomposition
The process of rotting and breaking down
Forensic entomology
The study of insects as they pertain to legal issues
Larva
Immature form of an animal that undergoes metamorphous
Example maggot
Algor Mortis
The cooling of the body after death
Livor Mortis
The pooling of the blood in tissues after death
Manner of death
One of four means by which someone dies
Example: suicide
Mechanism of death
The specific body failure that leads to death
Rigor Mortis
The stiffening of the skeletal muscles after death
Autopsy
A postmortem examination of the body
Postmortem Interval (PMI)
The interval of time between death occurs
Metamorphosis
The changes an organism undergoes as it develops into an adult
Stages of Decomposition
What are 3 stages of Decomposition? DSG
For each stage how many days goes by?
Discoloration 2 days
Swelling/ bloating 4 days
Gooey 6 days
If the answer in algor Mortis is less then 9.36 you —-
Divide by .78
If the number in algor Mortis is more than 9.36 then you—–
subtract 9.36, then divide by .39 and then add 12 to your final answer
What are the 4 steps you have to follow when doing an autopsy?
External Examination, Internal Examination, Weighing Internal Organs, and sewing up the body
What are the 4 ways a manner of death can occur
Natural death
Accidental death
Suicide
Homicide
What are 3 examples of causes of death
Disease, stroke, or shooting
What are 2 examples of mechanism of death?
Blood loss or the stoppage of brain functions
What are 3 factors that affect rigor Mortis
Ambient temperature
Weight of the body
If you Exercised or not before death
What 3 factors can affect the blowfly cycle
Weather, clothing and where the corpse
Histology
The study of tissue in the body
Neuropathology
The examination of disease and trauma of the brain
What 3 factors affect algor Mortis
Ambient temperature
Excessive body fat
Clothing
In algor Mortis does ambient temperature slow down or speed up the process?
Speeds up
In algor Mortis does excessive body fat slow down or speed up the process?
Slows down
In algor Mortis does clothing slow down or speed up the process?
Slows down
In rigor Mortis does ambient temperature slow down or speed up the process
Slows down
In rigor Mortis does body fat slow down or speed up the process
Slow down
In rigor Mortis does a fever slow down or speed up the process
Speed up
In rigor Mortis does exercise slow down or speed up the process
Speed up
In rigor Mortis does clothing slow down or speed up the process
Speed up
What 3 things does the medical examiner document when doing an external examination?
Physical characteristics
Weight
Tattoos