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Forensics 101 > unit 8: death, entomology, and anthropology > Flashcards

unit 8: death, entomology, and anthropology Flashcards

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1
Q

cause of death:

A

the injury or condition responsible for a person’s death
ex. disease, injury, stroke, poisoning, or heart attack

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2
Q

mechanism of death:

A

the specific psychological, physical, or chemical event that stops life
ex. blood loss, loss of oxygen (asphyxiation)

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3
Q

manner of death definition:

A

determination of how injury or disease leads to death

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4
Q

manners of death:

A
  1. natural
    -> interruption and failure of body functions resulting from age or disease
  2. accidental
    -> death caused by unplanned events
  3. suicidal
    -> death caused by oneself
  4. homicidal
    -> the death of one person intentionally caused by another person
  5. undetermined
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5
Q

body changes after death:

A
  1. heart stops
    -> blood is no longer pumping
    -> stops delivery of oxygen and glucose
  2. cells produce less energy
    ->lack of oxygen and glucose leads to less energy available for cells
  3. anaerobic respiration
    -> less energy is produced and lactic acid builds up
  4. cells rupture
    -> toxic wastes accumulate
    -> cell membranes rupture and cytoplasm seeps out of cells
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6
Q

autolysis:

A

cellular enzymes are released inside the cell that break down the cell contents and rupture the cell membrane, destroying the cell

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7
Q

PMI:

A

post mortem interval

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8
Q

TOD:

A

time of death

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9
Q

Algor Mortis

A

-> the cooling of the body after death
-> temperature of body can be used to determine post mortem interval
-> temperature should be taken from the liver or rectum
-> body will lose heat to surroundings until it reaches ambient temperature
-> body cools at a rate of 1.4 F per hour for the first 12 hours
-> 0.7 F per hour after

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10
Q

Livor Mortis

A

-> lividity becomes visible appx. 2 hours after death and becomes permanent after 8 hours
-> results from gravity and can reveal position of body during first 8 hours after death

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11
Q

lividity:

A

the reddish-purple color that results after break down of blood vessels and release of hemoglobin

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12
Q

Rigor Mortis:

A

-> death stiffness
-> in order for muscles to relax, calcium is released, without oxygen and the production of energy a person in the process of death cannot relax their muscles
-> muscles will become rigid within 2 hours of death
-> muscles will then relax after autolysis of cells, appx. 48 hours after death

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13
Q

factors to consider when determining PMI:

A

-> a person’s body mass relative to surface area (weight)
-> body position
-> clothing on the body
-> environment/ambient temperature
-> level of physical activity
-> autopsy

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14
Q

autopsy:

A

medical examination to determine the cause and manner of death

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15
Q

clinical autopsy:

A

performed for medical research purposes when foul play is not considered
ex. a person in good health dies unexpectedly

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16
Q

forensic autopsy:

A

performed when foul play is suspected
-> state laws vary regarding when an autopsy is required
-> all states require autopsies for deaths due to injuries, poisoning, unusual infections, and foul play
-> suspicious deaths are reported to the coroner or medical examiner that determines if an autopsy is needed
-> an external and internal examination is performed and documented

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17
Q

stomach and intestinal contents:

A

-> 2-6 hours for the stomach to empty its contents
-> 12 hours for the food to leave. the small intestine
-> 24 hours from time of meal was eaten until waste is eliminated through the rectum

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18
Q

postmortem changes in the eye:

A

-> potassium builds up in the eye leading to a cloudy film
-> film is observed within 2-3 hours if the eye is open
-> observed within 24 hours if the eye is closed
-> buildup of potassium could be used to estimate TOD, this method is not considered reliable yet

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19
Q

stages of decomposition:

A
  1. several hours after death
  2. after several days
  3. days 7-23
  4. after 3 weeks to 2 months
  5. after 2 months
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20
Q

stage of decomposition: several hours after death

A

-> cell autolysis
-> loss of muscle tone
-> bladder and rectum empty
-> onset of algor, livor, and rigor mortis
-> cloudy film forms over the eyes
-> flies arrive to deposit eggs on body

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21
Q

stage of decomposition: after several days

A

-> blistering of skin and internal organs results in skin slippage
-> putrefaction begins (destruction of soft tissues due to bacteria)
-> abdominal swelling due to release of CO2 from anaerobic respiration
-> marbling of skin occurs
-> internal pressure from fluids may force fluids from body openings
-> loss of rigor mortis
-> increased insect activity

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22
Q

stage of decomposition: days 7-23

A

-> bloating continues as more gases are released from the body
-> discoloration of skin may make ID of skin color impossible
-> ruptures in skin occur- more seepage of fluid- increased bacterial and insect activity
-> soft tissues start to liquify

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23
Q

stage of decomposition: after 3 weeks to 2 months

A

-> greatest loss of mass due to insect infestation, bacterial action, and purging of fluids
->fats start to decompose forming greasy wax or adipocere
-> adipocere prevents oxygen from reaching underlying tissues which can preserve tissue

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24
Q

stage of decomposition: after 2 months

A

-> soft tissues are usually done
-> bones remain
-> odors are mostly gone

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25
Q

entomology:

A

the study of insects and other arthropods (spiders)

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26
Q

forensic entomology:

A
  • interpretation of that insect evidence in criminal and civil investigations
  • provides an estimate of min and max time that could’ve passed since colonization (of the insects)
27
Q

what are the forms insect evidence can be found in?

A
  • adults
  • pupae
  • larvae
  • eggs
  • insect body parts
28
Q

general decomposition stages:

A
  1. fresh (2 days)- warm, newly dead body
  2. bloated (1 week)- a corpse emits odors of decaying flesh
  3. decay- a body emits gases of decay with strong odors, and shows signs of darkened tissues
  4. dry/skeletal decay- mostly bones remain
29
Q

bacteria produces two gases:

A

putrescine and cadaverine

30
Q

Blowfly life cycle: <8 hours after death

A

blowfly eggs found in moist, warm area of corpseshour

31
Q

Blowfly life cycle: within 20 hours after death

A

1st of the 3 larva stages

32
Q

Blowfly life cycle: 4-5 days after death

A

3rd of the larva stage

33
Q

Blowfly life cycle: 8-12 days after death

A

larvae migrates to dry places

34
Q

Blowfly life cycle: 18-24 days after death

A

early pupa; changes from light brown to dark brown; immobile

35
Q

Blowfly life cycle: 21-24 days after death

A

pupa case splits open and adult blowfly emerges

36
Q

insects can help to determine ___.

A

postmortem interval

37
Q

environmental conditions that impact insect growth:

A
  1. temperatures
  2. time of day (egg laying doesn’t happen at night)
  3. rainfall/precipitation
38
Q

two collections of evidence:

A
  1. collect live insects
  2. preserve other insects at scene
39
Q

collect ___ first. collect ___ and ___ second

A

adults; larvae and eggs

40
Q

after the body is removed, you should collect insects from ______

A

surrounding soil

41
Q

what else can affect timing/development of insect life cycles

A

certain drugs; makes TOD analysis more difficult

42
Q

___ drug speeds up development and ___ drug slows down development

A

cocaine; arsenic

43
Q

what are bones?

A

framework for our body, anchor our muscles, allow movement, and protects vital organs

44
Q

bones contain what along with living bone cells?

A

calcium and phosphate

45
Q

infants are born with ___ bones that fuse into the ___ bones in an adult body

A

270; 206

46
Q

ossification:

A

the process of bones replacing cartilage

47
Q

ossification begins before ___ and continues for more than __ years

A

birth; 50

48
Q

during childhood bones thicken, ___, and grow longer

A

ossify

49
Q

after age __, bones lose ___ faster than they are built

A

30; minerals

50
Q

what do bones contain?

A

“diary of injuries, disease, and nutritional deficiencies

51
Q

what diseases are easily observed in bones?

A

osteoarthritis and osteopreosis

52
Q

what is rickets caused by?

A

lack of vitamin D resulting in bowel legs, thinner skull, and deformed spine

53
Q

what is anemia caused by?

A

lack of iron results in holes in the eye socket and skull

54
Q

breaks that occur in advanced stages of decomposition snap off ___

A

easily

55
Q

what is present in bones and can be tested?

A

different isotopes

56
Q

what dissolved element is found in groundwater?

A

strontium

57
Q

after ingestion, strontium is deposited in ___

A

teeth

58
Q

food contains different amounts of stable ___ and ___

A

carbon-13 and carbon-12

59
Q

after ingestion, these isotopes are absorbed into the ___

A

bone

60
Q

male differences:

A
  • frontal bone is low and sloping
  • eye orbits are more square
  • lower jaw (mandible) has an angle closer to 90˙
  • pelvic cavity is heart shaped
  • sacrum curves inward
61
Q

female differences:

A
  • the subpubic angle is greater than 90˙
  • female pelvic cavity is oval shaped
  • shorter tailbone
  • sacrum curves outward
62
Q

age can be determined by what?

A
  • number of bones
  • degree of ossification
  • presence or absence of growth plates
  • degree of wear on bones
  • teeth
  • skull sutures
63
Q

it is difficult to determine ___ from skeletal remains

A

ancestry

64
Q

prognathism:

A

projection of maxilla and/or mandible beyond the face

Forensics 101 (7 decks)

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