HOSA Forensic Science

physical evidence

an object used to support elements of a crime

biological evidence

organic matter used to support elements of a crime

class evidence

evidence that narrows an identity to a group of persons or things

individual evidence

evidence that narrows identity to a single person or thing

trace evidence

a small amount of physical or biological evidence

primary crime scene

location of where the crime took place

secondary crime scene

alternate location where additional evidence can be collected

datum point

a permanent, fixed point of reference used in mapping a crime scene

handling substance evidence

process it, weigh it, separate it, identify it

poisons

natural or manufactured chemicals that can cause severe harm

toxins

naturally occurring poisonous substances living things produce

toxicity

degree to which a substance is harmful to a person at a given time

factors of toxicity

dose, duration, nature of exposure, interactions, by-products when broken down or metabolized

questions for toxicological testing

which substances?

illegal components?

how much of each?

colorimetric testing

most common form of presumptive testing that results in a color change

chromatography, mass spectrometry, capillary electrophoresis, wet chemistry

most common forms of confirmatory testing

acute poisoning

poisoning caused by a high dose over a short period of time; symptoms present themselves immediately

chronic poisoning

poisoning caused by low doses over long periods of time; symptoms present themselves gradually

heavy metals

poisonous metallic substances that are ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin or mucous membranes

mercury poisoning

heavy metal example

lethal gas

gases that cause bodily harm or death when inhaled

carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide

lethal gases examples

lethal injections

injection of a lethal substance in the body that causes bodily harm or death

potassium and sodium pentothal

lethal injection examples

herbicide

chemical substance that controls plants; can be deadly in humans

pesticide

chemical substance that controls insects and rodents; can be deadly in humans

aldrin and dieldrin

pesticide examples

glyphosate mixture

herbicide example

rattlesnake venom and ricin

toxin examples

five classes of drugs are

narcotics, depressants, stimulants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids

tolerance

amount of drug that creates an effect

addiction

compulsive drug craving and use

dependency

intense drug craving without withdrawal symptoms

hallucinogen

illegal drugs that affect perception, thinking, self-awareness, and emotions (effects: elevated heart rate, high blood pressure, dilated pupils)

LSD

hallucinogen example

narcotic

addictive, sleep-inducing drugs that depress the CNS and suppress pain (effects: dizziness, weakness, confusion, contracted pupils)

heroin and morphine

narcotic examples

controlled substances include

stimulants, narcotics, depressants, and anabolic steroids

stimulants

highly addictive drugs that increase feelings of energy and alertness while suppressing appetite (effects: high blood pressure and rapid heart rate)

meth and cocaine

examples of stimulants

depressants

drugs that relieve anxiety and produce sleep (effects: slowed heart rate, slowed breathing, slurred speech, loss of coordination, coma)

alcohol

nervous system depressant that can be highly addicting and can impair judgment

anabolic steroids

substance that promotes cell growth and division; used by bodybuilders and to treat low levels of testosterone

doping

use of substances to enhance athletic performance

biological profile

estimation of the deceased's sex, age, stature, and ancestry, along with diseases and injuries, as derived from analysis of skeletal remains

diaphysis

the shaft of a bone

epiphysis

the unattached end of a bone that eventually becomes fused with the bone shaft

epiphyseal plate

area of cartilage between the shaft and cap of an immature bone responsible for the lengthening of bone

ossification

the processes that replaces cartilage with bone by the deposition of minerals

osteoperosis

loss of bone density that can result in increased risk of fractures

cartilage

connective tissue that wraps ends of bones for protection and prevents scraping against each other

ligaments

connective tissue that links two or more bones

tendons

connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone

full bone growth

males: 19 or 20

femailes: 16 or 17

male shape of eye

more square

female of shape of eye

more rounded

male shape of mandible

more square shaped

female shape of mandible

more V-shaped

male upper brow ridge

thicker and larger

female upper brow ridge

thin and slender

male occipital protuberance

prominent

female occipital protuberance

less prominent

male frontal bone

low and sloping

female frontal bone

higher and more rounded

male surface of skull

rough and robust

female surface of skull

smooth and gracile

male zygomatic process

extends to or past ear opening

female zygomatic process

stops short of ear opening

male mastoid process

larger and more robust

female mastoid process

smaller

male subpubic angle

less than 90 degrees

female subpubic angle

greater than 90 degrees

male pelvic cavity shape

heart-shaped

female pelvic cavity shape

flattened oval

male ilium shape

narrow

female ilium shape

rectangular pubis, wide

male sacrum and tailbone

longer tailbone, sacrum curved inward

female sacrum and tailbone

shorter tailbone, sacrum curved outward

age based on pubic and rib bones

younger: heavily contoured face

older: porous and pitted surface

nasal index

ratio of width of nasal opening to height of opening times 100

prognathism

projection of upper haw and/or the lower jaw beyond the face

european shape of eye orbits

rounded, somewhat square

african shape of eye orbits

rectangular

asian shape of eye orbits

rounded, somewhat circular

european nasal spine

prominent spine

african nasal spine

very small spine

asian nasal spine

very small spine

european nasal index

less than 0.48

african nasal index

less than 0.53

asian nasal index

0.48 to 0.53

european prognathism

flat

african prognathism

prognathic

asian prognathism

variable

european nasal opening

teardrop

african nasal opening

round

asian nasal opening

oval

gunshot wound

smaller entrance wound and larger, beveled exit wound

blunt-force trauma

more cracks and more damage

sharp-force trauma

less cracks and less damage

craniofacial reconstruction

recreating facial features based on bones, often using "tissue-depth" method