Forensic Science Autopsy, Toxicology, and PMI

The first cut during an autopsy is known as what

The Y incision (starts at the front of the shoulders and goes down to the pubic bone)

What organs are removed

Lungs, Liver, Heart, Small and large intestine, and Stomach

What is the Rokitansky method

Removing all the organs at once

What two intestines are not weighed

The intestines and stomach

Algor Mortis

Latin for Cold Death

Bodies temp falls by 1.5 degrees per hour until body’s temp matches its surrounding environment

Livor Mortis

Latin for Bluish Death

Blood settles and discoloration sets

Rigor Mortis

Latin for Stiff Death

Lactic builds up because of the muscles being denied oxygen

Autolysis

The body starts feeding on itself, digestive enzymes continue to work without the normal controls of the body

Putrefaction

Breakdown of tissue because of bacteria that is released after death

Purge Fluids

As the gases accumulate, the body becomes bloated until the pressure eventually collapses the surrounding tissue and leaks out in what is called ___________.

Black Putrefaction

The skin blackens as larva feeds on tissue

Butyric Fermentation

A stage where the exposed flesh ferments and slowly dries.

Dry Decay

The remaining tissue becomes leathery and hardened

Skeletonization

When most of the soft tissue is gone and the bones are clearly exposed, then the body is considered _________.

Stages of decomposition

Factors that accelerate decomposition

Heat, Humidity, small body size, open wounds, exposed flesh, moist or acidic soil, scavenging animals, Insect activity.

What is the most important variable in decomposition

Climate

Factors that decelerate decomposition

Large body size, Uninjured body, clothing or wrapping, container, burial, cold climate, alkaline soil, submergence in water

What is adipocere

White waxy substance created by a chemical reaction with water that converts body fat to fatty acids.

Sea lice

Small crustaceans are only a quarter of an inch long, but they congregate in a cloud of thousands that can clean a body of its flesh in a matter of hours.

Green Bone

A bone that has a greasy feel to it is called __________.

Bleached Bone

Bones left lying out on the surface become bleached white and brittle in the sun, losing all their moisture.

Stained/Dark bone

Bones that have been buried become _______ and _______.

What percentage of law enforcement agents trained at the Body Farm

About 1/3 approx 33%