Principles of Biomedical Science Final

autopsy

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