biomed forst sem final review

Scaled crime scene sketch

A proportional drawing of a crime scene that includes measurements, scale, legend, orientation, and evidence locations

Scale

A ratio that shows how measurements on a sketch relate to real-life distances

Legend

Key explaining symbols used in a crime scene sketch

Evidence prioritization

Deciding which evidence is most important to analyze based on relevance to the case

Hypothesis

A testable explanation about how evidence relates to the crime

Forensic testing

Scientific procedures used to analyze evidence

Polygraph

A device that measures physiological responses to assess deception

Physiological response

Automatic body reaction such as heart rate or sweating

Deception

Lying or intentionally misleading

Heart rate

The speed at which the heart beats

Blood pressure

Force of blood against artery walls

Respiration rate

Number of breaths per minute

Polygraph validity

How accurately a polygraph measures deception

Polygraph reliability

How consistently a polygraph produces results

Microscopy

Use of a microscope to view small details

Hair medulla

Inner core of a hair strand

Hair cortex

Middle layer containing pigment

Hair cuticle

Outer protective layer of hair

Fingerprint pattern

Overall ridge flow (loop, whorl, arch)

Loop fingerprint

Ridges enter and exit on the same side

Whorl fingerprint

Circular ridge pattern

Arch fingerprint

Ridges enter one side and exit the other

Fingerprint minutiae

Small unique ridge details

Latent fingerprint

Invisible fingerprint left by sweat/oils

Digital footprint

Record of a person’s online activity

Plasma

Liquid portion of blood

Red blood cells

Cells that carry oxygen

White blood cells

Cells that fight infection

Platelets

Blood components involved in clotting

Presumptive blood test

Test indicating possible presence of blood

Confirmatory blood test

Test proving blood is present

RSID

A confirmatory test identifying human blood

ABO blood typing

System based on A and B antigens

Antigen

Molecule that triggers immune response

Antibody

Protein that binds to antigens

Agglutination

Clumping reaction during blood typing

Universal donor

Type O negative blood

Universal recipient

Type AB positive blood

Blood spatter

Pattern created when blood droplets land

Spatter diameter

Width of blood drop used to infer height

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acid carrying genetic information

Double helix

Twisted ladder shape of DNA

Gene

Segment of DNA coding for a trait

Genome

All DNA in an organism

Protein

Molecule that performs cellular functions

Trait

Observable characteristic

Eukaryotic cell

Cell with a nucleus

Prokaryotic cell

Cell without a nucleus

DNA source

Material containing DNA such as blood or saliva

DNA profile

Unique DNA pattern used for identification

DNA extraction

Process of isolating DNA

Restriction enzyme

Protein that cuts DNA at specific sequences

Agarose

Gel material used to separate DNA

Restriction digest

DNA cut by restriction enzymes

Gel electrophoresis

Technique separating DNA by size

Negative charge

DNA’s electrical property

Positive electrode

End DNA moves toward

RFLP

Restriction fragment length polymorphism

DNA ladder

Standard used to estimate fragment size

Micropipette

Tool for measuring small liquid volumes

Accuracy

How close a measurement is to the true value

Precision

How consistent repeated measurements are

CODIS

National DNA database

Autopsy

Postmortem examination of a body

Cause of death

Specific injury or disease leading to death

Mechanism of death

Biological process causing death

Manner of death

Classification of death circumstances

External examination

Inspection of body surface

Internal examination

Inspection of internal organs

Autopsy report

Official documentation of findings

Time of death

Estimated moment a person died

Algor mortis

Body cooling after death

Rigor mortis

Muscle stiffening after death

Livor mortis

Blood pooling after death

Body farm

Research site studying decomposition

Glaister equation

Formula estimating time of death

Ambient temperature

Surrounding environmental temperature

Forensic toxicologist

Scientist analyzing drugs and poisons

Toxin

Harmful substance

Poison

Substance causing illness or death

Digestion

Process of breaking down food

Chemical digestion

Breaking food bonds chemically

Physical digestion

Mechanical breakdown of food

Metabolism

Chemical reactions sustaining life

Metabolite

Product of metabolism

Toxicology report

Lab results identifying substances

Central nervous system

Brain and spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system

Nerves outside CNS

Frontal lobe

Decision-making and movement

Parietal lobe

Sensory processing

Temporal lobe

Hearing and memory

Occipital lobe

Vision processing

Gross exam

Visual inspection of organs

Histology

Study of tissues under microscope

Concussion

Brain injury affecting neurons

Atrium

Upper heart chamber

Ventricle

Lower heart chamber

Valve

Structure controlling blood flow

Red blood cell

Cell carrying oxygen