Studied by 11 peopleautopsy
a systematic examination of the entire body following death
cause of death
the specific injury, trauma, or disease that directly caused the victim’s death
manner of death
the circumstances that results in death, which are designated as natural, homicide, or accidental
mechanism of death
what happens physiologically (inside the body) to result in death
medical examiner
a physician who performs an autopsy when a death might have been caused accidentally or intentionally. In some jurisdictions, they may also serve as the coroner
cardiovascular system
the transport system of the body responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients to the body and carrying away carbon dioxide and other wastes; composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood
digestive system
breaks down food into absorbable units that enter the blood for distribution to body cells
lymphatic system
composed of a network of vessels, ducts, nodes, and organs. Provides defense against infection
muscular system
contains all muscles that connect to bones and help the body move
nervous system
the body’s speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems
skeletal system
protects and supports body organs and provides a framework the muscles use to support movement. Made up of bones and joints
respiratory system
a system of organs, functioning in the process of gas exchange between the body and the environment, consisting especially of the nose, nasal passages, nasopharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs
urinary system
eliminates nitrogenous wastes from the body. Regulates water, electrolyte and acid-base balance of the blood
reproductive system
reproduce offspring - produce male sex cells (sperm) and female sex cells (oocytes)
endocrine system
glands secrete hormones that regulate processes such as growth, reproduction, and nutrient use (metabolism) by body cells
integumentary system
consists of the skin, mucous membranes, hair, and nail
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
scene markers
clues are also left at the scene that help establish a timeline. These markers may include dated texts, emails, or mail, a broken clock, or even dishes in the sink
glaister equation
one formula used to approximate the postmortem interval, the time since death. This equation uses degrees Fahrenheit
forensic entomologist
scientists who study arachnids, such as mites, spiders, ticks, and insects, such as flies, as they pertain to criminal investigations
toxicology
the field of science that studies the effects of chemicals, such as drugs (over-the-counter, prescription, and illicit), alcoholt, poisons, metals, and gases on the human body
forensic toxicology
analyzes the samples collected by the ME for the presence of any substances that may have contributed to the decedent’s death
physical digestion
the mechanical act of breaking down food into smaller parts, like when you chew
chemical digestion
your body’s use of acids and enzymes to break down foods into smaller molecules
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
forensic chemist
a scientist who tests non biological samples, such as powders, pills, and other substances, to determine their identity, components, or concentration
presumptive test
quick tests that indicate if a type of substance is present but cannot specifically identify a substance
confirmatory test
specific tests that can determine the exact identity and composition of a substance by pinpointing its specific properties
histology
the study of the microscopic anatomy of tissues and histologists are the professionals who perform the work
cell
the smallest unit of life
tissue
a group of similar cells that perform the same function
organ
a collection of tissues that carry out a specialized function of the body
organ system
group of organs that work together to perform a specific function
organism
an individual living thing
central nervous system
brain and spinal cord
peripheral nervous system
the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body
temporal lobe
a region of the cerebral cortex responsible for hearing and language
frontal lobe
a region of the cerebral cortex that has specialized areas for movement, abstract thinking, planning, memory, and judgement
parietal lobe
a region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing sensory and visual information
occipital lobe
a region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information
traumatic brain injury (TBI)
a brain dysfunction caused by an outside force to the head
chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)
a progressive, degenerative condition involving brain damage resulting from multiple episodes of head trauma
nervous tissue
a body tissue that carries electrical messages back and forth between the brain and every other part of the body
epithelial tissue
a body tissue that covers the surfaces of the body, inside and out
muscular tissue
contracts and moves the various parts of the body
connective tissue
a body tissue that provides support for the body and connects all of its parts
histologist
look at all the tissues of the body to help a medical examiner determine the cause of death
concussion
a type of traumatic brain injury that can occur after an impact to the head
assistant athletic trainer
use tests we use to get a check on where an athlete is mentally, cognitively, and emotionally on a day-to-day basis and after a head injury
valves of the heart
mechanical devices that permit the flow of blood in one direction only
tricuspid valve
valve between the right atrium and the right ventricle
mitral valve
valve between the left atrium and the left ventricle; bicuspid valve
pulmonary valve
valve positioned between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery
aortic valve
the semilunar valve separating the aorta from the left ventricle that prevents blood from flowing into the left ventricle
arteries
carry blood away from the heart
veins
blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart
pulmonary circulation
flow of blood from the heart to the lungs and back to the heart
systemic circulation
circulation that supplies blood to all the body except to the lungs
superior and inferior vena cava
veins that carry deoxygenated blood to the right atrium from the systemic circuit
aorta
largest artery in the body
apex of the heart
lower tip of the heart
auricles
“flaps” on the atria to increase to volume of the chamber
brachiocephalic artery
the first major branch off of the aorta and the major artery to the forelimbs and head
chordae tendineae
thin bands of fibrous tissue that attach to the valves in the heart and prevent them from inverting
papillary muscles
responsible for pulling the atrioventricular valves closed by means of the chordae tendineae
coronary artery
the artery that supplies heart tissue with blood
left ventricle
pumps oxygenated blood to the body, thickest of the 4 chambers
left atrium
receives oxygenated blood from the lungs
right atrium
receives deoxygenated blood from the body
right ventricle
pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs via the pulmonary artery
pulmonary artery
artery carrying oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs
pulmonary vein
one of two pairs of vessels carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart
septum
muscular wall dividing the heart into right and left sides to prevent oxygenated and deoxygenated blood from mixing
congestive heart failure
a condition resulting from the heart’s inability to pump out all the blood that returns to it; blood backs up in the veins leading to the heart, causing an accumulation of fluid in various parts of the body
myocardial infarction
the occlusion of one or more coronary arteries caused by plaque buildup (heart attack)
ventricular septal defect
large hole between two ventricles lets venous blood pass from the right to the left ventricle and out to the aorta without oxygenation
subacute bacterial endocarditis
impairs the function of the heart valves
heart murmur
an abnormal sound from the heart produced by defects in the chambers or valves
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
a type of nucleic acid consisting of nucleotide monomers with a ribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T). DNA is double-stranded and helical and functions in protein synthesis and as the genome of some viruses
protein
a three-dimensional polymer made of amino acid monomers. It’s form and function are determined by a cell’s nucleic acid sequence
nucleotide
a building block of DNA that consists of a five-carbon sugar covalently bonded to a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group
double helix
the form of native DNA, referring to its two adjacent polynucleotide strands into a spiral shape
genetics
a branch of biology that deals with the heredity and variation of organisms
gene
a sequence of nucleotides that codes for a protein, resulting in a specific phenotype
genome
a complete set of the genes in one organism
cell
the smalles unit of life
organelle
tiny structures that perform a function in a cell. Functions can include: producing energy, housing DNA, packaging proteins, and more
eukaryotic cells
cells that have membrane-bound organelles
prokaryotic cells
cells lacking membrane-bound organelles
chromosome
tightly coiled DNA that is found in the nuclei of cells
histone
a protein that DNA winds around to condense into a chromosome
polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
a laboratory technique for amplifying DNA in-vitro. Uses a thermocycler, primers, DNA polymerase, and nucleotides
restriction enzymes
a degradative enzyme that recognizes specific nucleotide sequences and cuts DNA at these sequences called restriction sites. Also known as a restriction endonuclease
recognition sites
a sequence of DNA where a restriction enzyme cuts
restriction digestion
the process of cutting DNA molecules into smaller pieces using restriction enzymes
Note 
Flashcard (50)