Unit 1.2 Flashcards
What is an Autopsy?
Full body examination post mortem
Who preforms an Autopy?
Medical Examiner or coroner
Where is an Autopsy preformed
Coroners office
When is an autopsy preformed?
When a person’s death is suspicious, when a death is unexpected, upon family’s request, when there is a public health concern
Cause of Death
The specific injury, trauma, or disease that directly caused the victim’s death
Mechanism of Death
What happens physiologically (inside the body) to result in death
Manner of Death
The circumstances that result in death, which are designated as natural or unnatural
What are the 5 manners of death?
1) Natural, 2) Accident, 3) Suicide, 4) Homicide, 5) Undetermined
Cardiovascular/Circulatory System
Pumps blood around body, transports oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and waste
Integumentary System
Forms the body’s external covering, protects deeper tissue from injury, helps regulate body temperature
Endocrine System
Secretes hormones that regulate processes such as growth, reproduction, and metabolism by body cells
Skeletal System
Protects and supports bod organs, provides a framework the muscles use to cause movement, stores minerals
Digestive System
Breaks down food into its nutrients molecules, absorbs nutrients, rids the body of waste
Nervous System
Responds to internal and external changes by acting an appropriate response, processes information
Reproductive System
To produce, transport, and sustain sperm and egg cells, to nurture the developing offspring
Respiratory System
Assists with gas exchange with the external environment, keep blood supplied with oxygen and removes carbon dioxide
Immune and Lymphatic System
Filter fluid in the body, mounts the attack against foreign substances in the body
Muscular System
Moves the body and moves substances around the body, maintain posture, produce heat
Urinary System
Eliminates waste from the body, regulates water balance of the blood
Physiological Time of Death
The time when the decedent’s vital functions actually ceased
Estimated Time of Death
The time the medical examiner estimates that the death occurred
Legal Time of Death
The time of death recorded on the death certificate; based on when the body was found or physically pronounced dead
Algor Mortis
The change in body temperature after death
Rigor Mortis
The stiffening of joints and muscles after death
Livor Mortis
Pooling of the body following death that causes a purplish red discoloration of the skin; also referred to as lividity
What is the responsibility of a forensic entomologist?
To study study arachnids, such as mites, spiders, ticks, and insects, such as flies, as they pertain to criminal investigations
What is toxicology?
The field of science that studies the effects of chemicals, such as drugs (over-the-counter, prescription, and illicit), alcohol, poisons, metals, and gasses on the human body
What is a Toxin?
Naturally-occurring poisons produced by living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, plants, insects, and algae
What are Toxicants?
Manufactured and extracted chemicals such as pesticides, cleaning agents, industrial emissions or by-products, mining by-products, etc. that are in our environment and produce adverse biological effects of any nature
What is Physical digestion?
the mechanical act of breaking down food into smaller parts, like when you chew
What is Chemical Digestion?
your body’s use of acids and enzymes to break down foods into smaller molecules
What is metabolism?
The chemical reaction processes of breaking down molecules for energy and of using simple building blocks to build up more complex molecules needed for growth and repair
What is a metabolite?
The small molecules produced as byproducts during metabolism
Where is metabolite found?
Blood, sweat, urine, skin cells, hair, fingernails/toenails, or other cells and tissues of the body
Why is it important to identify metabolites in an autopsy?
They can provide clues as clues as to what substances were ingested by an individual and when
What is the responsibility of a forensic chemist?
Test non biological samples, such as powders, pills, and other substances, to determine their identity, components, or concentration
What is a presumptive test?
quick tests that indicate if a type of substance is present but cannot specifically identify a substance
What is a confirmatory test?
specific tests that can determine the exact identity and composition of a substance by pinpointing its specific properties
What is histology?
the study of the microscopic anatomy of tissues
What is the function of the nervous system?
Responds to internal and external changes by acting an appropriate response, processes information
What organs are involved in the nervous system?
The brain and spinal cord
What is the central nervous system?
The brain and spinal cord
What is the peripheral nervous system?
All of the nerves
How do the central and peripheral nervous systems work together?
The nerves of the peripheral nervous system extend from the central nervous system to the outermost areas of the body
What are the four lobes of the brain?
1) Frontal Lobe, 2) Parietal Lobe, 3) Temporal Lobe, 4) Occipital Lobes
Frontal Lobe
Responsible for planning and organizing incoming information. Also controls behavior and emotions
Parietal Lobe
Crucial in integrating sensory and visual information
Temporal Lobe
Used for processing language and storing information in the long term memory
Occipital Lobes
Receives and processes sensory nerve impulses from the eyes
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
A brain dysfunction caused by an outside force to the head
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
A progressive degeneration, and/or death, of nerve cells caused by repeated head injuries, such as repeated concussions
What organs are involved in the cardiovascular system?
heart, veins, arteries, and capillaries
What is the difference between pulmonary and systemic circulation?
Pulmonary circulation moves blood between the heart and the lungs while systemic circulation moves blood between the heart and the rest of the body
What is the difference between arteries and veins?
Veins return blood to the heart, contain valves, oxygen poor blood, blood flows smoothly, slows under low pressure
Arteries are large vessels, carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body, oxygen rich blood, thick walls, flows in pulses, flows under high pressure
What is the difference between arteries and veins? (direction)
Arteries carry blood away from the heart, and veins carry blood towards the heart
What is the difference between arteries and veins? (structure)
Arteries have thick walls with muscle tissue, veins have thinner walls and use valves to keep your blood flowing
What is the function of valves?
Prevent the backward flow of blood
Starting at the Right atrium, list in order the path of blood flow through the heart.
The blood enters the heart’s right atrium and is pumped to your right ventricle, which in turn pumps the blood to your lungs. The pulmonary artery then carries the oxygen-poor blood from your heart to the lungs. Your lungs add oxygen to your blood.
Which parts of the heart carry deoxygenated blood?
Vena cava — One of the two great veins that carries deoxygenated blood from the body to the right atrium of the heart.
Which parts of the heart carry oxygenated blood?
Oxygen-rich blood flows from the lungs back into the left atrium (LA), or the left upper chamber of the heart, through four pulmonary veins
