Blood Spatter Analysis Study Guide

Antibodies A

Specific proteins that identify foreign substances.

Antibodies B

Proteins that react against specific antigens.

Blood spatter

Patterns formed by blood droplets after impact.

Point of convergence

Location where blood spatter originates.

Crime-scene blood

Blood found at the location of a crime.

Blood type matching

Comparison of blood types for forensic evidence.

Class evidence

Evidence that connects a suspect to a group.

Satellite droplets

Small droplets that form around a larger blood drop.

Arterial spray

Blood pattern indicating blood was ejected from an artery.

90-degree angle droplets

Round droplets indicating vertical blood drop.

Blood droplet direction

Determined by the shape and tail of droplets.

Height of drop

Influences the size and pattern of blood spatter.

Gunshot pattern

Specific blood spatter pattern from gunshot wounds.

Blow to the head pattern

Distinct blood spatter from blunt force trauma.

Distance of drop

30 cm drop creates different spatter patterns.

Forensic lab results

Scientific analysis of evidence from a crime scene.

Prosecutor's argument

Claims matching blood type proves defendant's guilt.

Defendant's attorney response

Matching blood type is not definitive proof of guilt.

Bloodstain analysis

Examination of blood patterns for investigative insights.

Point of origin determination

Using geometry to find blood source location.

Bloodstain patterns

Visual evidence used to reconstruct crime events.

Antibodies A

Proteins that react with type A blood.

Antibodies B

Proteins that react with type B blood.

Anti-Rh antibodies

Proteins that react with Rh factor.

Sample A

Blood sample tested for type A.

Sample B

Blood sample tested for type B.

Blood spatter

Patterns formed by blood droplets.

Gunshot pattern

Smaller, spread out blood droplets.

Blow to the head pattern

Larger, more cohesive blood droplets.

Blood type determination

Identifying blood type using antibodies.

Type A- blood

Contains A protein, lacks Rh protein.

Type O+ blood

No A or B proteins, has Rh protein.

Blood type testing

Mixing blood with specific antibodies.

Surface effect on spatter

Rough surfaces create spines in droplets.

Smooth surface effect

Smooth surfaces lead to even blood spread.

Distance of blood drop

Height affects spatter pattern formation.

30 cm drop height

Consistent height for blood spatter analysis.

Rh factor

Protein determining positive or negative blood type.

ABO blood group

Classification based on A and B proteins.

Blood proteins

Surface proteins determining blood type.

Spatter analysis

Examining blood patterns for forensic evidence.

Droplet size correlation

Size indicates force and distance of impact.

agglutination

the clumping of molecules or cells caused by an antigen-antibody reaction

antibodies

proteins secreted by white blood cells that attach to antigens

antigen-antibody response

a reaction in which antibodies attach to specific antigens

antigens

any foreign substance or cell in the body that reacts with antibodies

cell-surface protein

proteins embedded in the cell membrane

lines of convergence

a two-dimensional view of the intersection of lines formed by drawing a line through the main axis of at least two drops of blood that indicates the general area of the source of the blood spatter

point of origin

a three-dimensional view formed using lines of convergence and angles of impact of at least two different drops of blood to identify the source and location of blood splatter

red blood cells

donut-shaped cells that carry oxygen throughout the body

satellite drop of blood

secondary drop formed when some blood breaks free from the main contact drop of blood

white blood cells

cells that police the body by destroying foreign materials