Chapter 12 - Forensics Manner, Mechanism, and Cause of Death

are coroners certified to perform autopsies?

no

if a death is suspicious, then the medical examiner will

consult a forensic patholigost

forensic pathologists are also trained in

non-medical sciences (ballistics, for example)

the first autopsy was done on , and performed in by

executed criminals, 300 B.C., Egypt

who was the famous leader who’s autopsy in 44BC determined that his cause of death was stab wounds?

Ceaser

what two artists performed autopsies in the 1400s?

DaVinci and Michealangelo

Who was the first medical examiner in New York City that replaced coroners and when (think papa)

Charles Norris in 1918

true or false technology improves reliability and validity

true

where does the word “coroner” come from? and why?

The British Tax collectors, crowners. Crowners certified manner of death, became known as coroners.

true or false, in the 1800s coroners could make arrests, set bail, and preside over juries despite not having training.

true

because being a coroner was a low paying job, they were suseptible to

bribes

natural death is caused by

interruption or faliure of bodily functions because of age, disease, or toxic exposure

what is the most common manner of death?

natural

accidental death is caused by

unplanned events such as car accidents or falling from a roof

undetermined manner of death means

the coroner could not establish manner of death and no crime was committed.

what is the first step in the process of death

stoppage

stoppage results when

the heart stops, causing lack of oxegyn and glucose to cells. Because of the lack of oxegyn, cellular respiration converts to anarobic respiration and toxic waste accumulates.

what triggers autolysis

damaged or injured cells

a smaller body will cool (slower/faster) than a larger body

faster

if a body is curled up it will cool (slower/faster) than one that is spread out

slower

a body that just did physical activity will cool (slower/faster) than one that did not

slower

a naked body will cool (slower/faster) than a clothed one

faster

a body in water or in a cold enviroment will cool (slower/faster) than a dry one or one in a warm enviroment

faster

livor mortis causes a reddish purple color called

lividity

livor mortis becomes noticable

2 hours after death

rigor mortis becomes noticeable

2 hours after death

rigor mortis begins in the small muscle groups such as the face, and the body will get progressivley stiffer until _ when it is at peak rigor.

12 hours PMI

after _ the body will lose rigor

36 hours

open eyes will develop a cloudy film after - hours, while closed or covered eyes will develop a film after - hours

2-3, 24

what is something that could be used to help estimate PMI, but is not considered reliable

potassium levles in the eye

after several hours, what changes will occur to the body (2)

autolysis will set in, and rigor will set in

after several days, what changes will occur to the body (2)

loss of rigor, bloating

days 7-23 what changes will occur

more gases release, tissues liquify

3 weeks - 2 months what occurs

the greatest loss of mass

after 2 months only

bones remain

what are the stages of decomposition

fresh (initial), bloating (putrefaction), active decay (black putrefaction), advanced decay, dry or skeletal

what are the two types of autopsies

clinical - for research purposes
forensic - suspected foul play

some non-biological PMI factors include

texts, broken watches

some biological PMI factors include

stomach and intestinal contents, entomology reports, changes in eye, degree of rigor algor and livor mortis

what does LABRADOR stand for

Light‐weight Analyzer for Buried Remains and Decomposition Odor Recognition

Body warm and limp

Dead less than 3 hours

Body warm and stiff

Dead 3–8 hours

body cold and stiff

Dead 8–36 hours

body cold and limp

Dead more than 36 hours

Forensic Investigation Research Station (FIRS)

research on microbial sucsession of microbes on mouth or skin to estimate pmi by profiling and comparing microbe’s dna

Postmortem CT angiography (PMCTA)

less invasive, more accurate (90 percent) form of autopsies that detects damage to bone and blood vessles

how accurate are traditonal autopsies

61 percent

In the 17th century anyone with a weak heartbeat was pronounced dead because they had no stethoscope. (T/F)

true

Experts cannot agree on a single definition of death. (T/F)

true

In general it takes how many hours to empty stomach contents

2-6

By two months after death soft tissue is gone from the body. (T/F)

true

you examine the corpse from - to - and you should always take the - of the corpse at the scene.

head to foot, temp

what causes marbling?

the reaction of sulfur and hemoglobin

rigor mortis is quickened by fully oxegynated muscles (T/F)

false

Lactic acid buildup accelerates rigor (t/f)

true

what is algor mortis and what does it mean roughly

cold death, it is how fast a body loses heat after death