PBS* 1.2: Master the Morgue

Morgue

A place where the bodies of dead persons are kept temporarily pending identification or release for burial or autopsy.

Autopsy

A postmortem evaluation to determine cause of death.

Cause of death

The specific injury, trauma, or disease that directly caused the victim's death

Mechanism of death

What happens physiologically (inside the body) to result in death

Manner of death

The circumstances that result in death, which are designated as natural or unnatural. Unnatural deaths are further categorized as an accident, as a homicide or as undetermined.

Medical examiner

A physician who performs an autopsy when a death might have been caused accidentally or intentionally. In some jurisdictions, the Medical Examiner may also serve as the coroner.

Organ systems

A group of organs in a body that work together to perform a specific function.

Physiological time of death

The time when the decedent's vital functions actually ceased

Estimated time of death

The time the medical examiner estimates that the death occurred

Legal time of death

The time of death recorded on the death certificate; based on when the body was found or physically pronounced dead

Algor mortis

the change in body temperature after death

Rigor mortis

the stiffening of joints and muscles after death

Livor mortis

pooling of the body following death that causes a purplish red discoloration of the skin; also referred to as lividity

Digestive system

An organ system that breaks down food to extract energy and nutrients and then evacuates remaining waste.

Nutrient

A substance that the body needs to maintain life and health, such as proteins, lipids, vitamins, and minerals.

Molecules

A group of atoms held together by chemical bonds.

Chemical reaction

A process where atoms and/or molecules are rearranged to transform matter.

Metabolism

The chemical reaction processes of breaking down molecules for energy and of using simple building blocks to build up more complex molecules needed for growth and repair.

Forensic chemistry

A field of chemistry that tests non-biological samples, such as powders, pills, and other substances, to identify or quantify them.

Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)

Specialized clothing or equipment that a person wears for protection against laboratory hazards, such as infectious materials and chemicals.

Histology

The study of the microscopic anatomy of tissues. Also known as microanatomy.

Tissue

An integrated group of cells with a common function and/or structure.

Organ

A collection of tissues in an organism that performs a specific function, such as the heart, brain, skin, and liver.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

A medical imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to take pictures of the soft tissues of the body.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

A brain dysfunction caused by an outside force to the head.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

A progressive degeneration, and/or death, of nerve cells caused by repeated head injuries, such as repeated concussions.

Genome

A complete set of the genes in one organism.

Cardiovascular system

The transport system of the body responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients to the body and carrying away carbon dioxide and other wastes; composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.

Atrium

An upper chamber of the heart where blood enters. The heart has two atria: the left atrium connects to the lungs and the right atrium connects to the veins.

Ventricle

A lower chamber of the heart where blood exits. The heart has two ventricles: the left ventricle connects to the aorta and the right ventricle connects to the main pulmonary artery (or pulmonary trunk).

Valve

A body structure that temporarily closes a passage or orifice, or permits movement of fluid in only one direction.

Tricuspid valve

Separates the right atrium from the right ventricle

Pulmonary valve

Permits blood to flow into the pulmonary artery from the right ventricle

Mitral or Bicuspid valve

Separates the left atrium from the left ventricle

Aortic valve

Permits blood to flow into the aorta from the left ventricle

Artery

A type of vessel that carries blood from the heart through the body; part of the circulatory system.

Vein

A vessel that returns blood—typically deoxygenated—to the heart.

Pulmonary circulation

Part of the circulatory system in which deoxygenated blood moves from the right atrium of the heart to the lungs (through arteries) to become oxygenated and then returns to the left side of the heart (through veins).

Systemic circulation

The series of vessels that bring oxygenated blood from the heart to tissues and return deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart.

Aorta

The largest artery in the body, the aorta carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle of the heart to the rest of the body.

Superior vena cava

The second largest vein in the human body. The superior vena cava returns blood to the right atrium of the heart from the upper half of the body.

Inferior vena cava

The largest vein in the human body, the inferior vena cava returns blood to the right atrium of the heart from body parts below the diaphragm.

Digestive system

An organ system that breaks down food to extract energy and nutrients and then evacuates remaining waste.