Forensic Medicine Revision

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in forensic medicine.

Inquest

A legal inquiry into the cause of someone's death, typically involving a coroner.

Cognizable offence

A crime for which a police officer may arrest without a warrant and start an investigation with or without the permission of a court.

Non cognizable offence

A crime for which a police officer has no authority to arrest without a warrant and cannot start an investigation without direction from a judge.

Magistrate inquest

An inquest conducted by a magistrate, which is superior to a police inquest and can involve judicial magistrates.

Dying declaration

An oral or written statement made by a person who is about to die regarding the cause of their death.

Medical negligence

Failure to provide the standard of care, resulting in harm to a patient.

Res Ipsa Loquitur

A Latin phrase meaning 'the thing speaks for itself,' used in tort law to indicate that the evidence is obvious.

Euthanasia

The act of deliberately ending a person's life to relieve them of suffering.

Forensic science

The application of scientific methods and techniques to the investigation of crime.

Chop wound

A deep gaping wound caused by a heavy cutting weapon, such as an axe.

Cadaveric rigidity

Also known as rigor mortis, a postmortem change that involves the stiffening of the body.

Putrefaction

The decomposition of body tissues after death, which is caused by bacteria.

Hypothermia

A medical emergency that occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature.

Autopsy

A postmortem examination to determine the cause of death.

24 - 36 HRS

AT WHAT TIME MARBELLING SEEN

TAKAYAMA , TEICHMAN TEST , KASTLE MAYER

TEST FOR BLOOD STAIN

Manner of death

Categories include natural, accidental, suicide, homicide, and undetermined; important for medicolegal context.

Cause of death – Exsanguination

Death due to severe blood loss; can be internal or external. Often related to trauma or surgical complications.

Asphyxia

Condition arising when the body is deprived of oxygen, causing unconsciousness or death; many potential causes, including suffocation, strangulation, or drowning.

Putrefaction

Postmortem change; decomposition of body tissues due to bacterial activity. Influenced by temperature, humidity, and environment.

Adipocere

Grave wax; a soap-like substance formed by the anaerobic bacterial hydrolysis of fat in moist conditions. Preserves body but distorts identity.

Mummification

Preservation of the body by drying; occurs in hot, dry environments with good ventilation. Skin becomes dark, leathery, and shrunken.

Livor mortis (lividity)

Postmortem discoloration due to gravitational settling of blood. Helps estimate time of death and if the body was moved.

Rigor mortis

Postmortem stiffening of muscles due to depletion of ATP. Starts 1-2 hours after death, peaks at 12 hours, dissipates by 36-48 hours.

Algor mortis

Postmortem cooling of the body. Follows Newton's law of cooling; influenced by ambient temperature, body size, and clothing.

Forensic entomology

Use of insect evidence to estimate time of death. Blowflies are typically the first to colonize a body; their developmental stage provides a timeline.

Taché spots

Subpleural petechial hemorrhages due to asphyxia, usually seen in drowning or strangulation.

Tardieu spots

Minute petechial hemorrhages seen in asphyxial deaths; caused by rupture of small vessels due to increased venous pressure.

Ghon’s complex

Combination of a primary lung lesion and regional lymph node involvement in tuberculosis.

Brodie’s abscess

Focal osteomyelitis, a chronic bone infection that presents as a well-defined lesion.

Virchow’s triad

Three factors predisposing to thrombosis: endothelial injury, abnormal blood flow, and hypercoagulability.

Battle’s sign

Mastoid ecchymosis indicating a basilar skull fracture.

Pugilistic posture

Shrunken muscle of body due to burning.

Hypothermia

Core body temperature below 35°C (95°F); can cause altered mental status, cardiac arrhythmias, and death.

Hyperthermia

Elevated body temperature due to failed thermoregulation; includes heatstroke and malignant hyperthermia.

Petechiae

Small, pinpoint hemorrhages; may indicate trauma, asphyxia, or clotting disorders.

Ecchymosis

Bruise; extravasation of blood into subcutaneous tissues due to blunt trauma.

Hematoma

Localized collection of blood outside blood vessels, usually clotted; larger than ecchymosis.

Laceration

Tear in tissue due to blunt force trauma; often irregular edges and bridging strands of tissue.

Incision

Cut caused by a sharp object; typically clean edges and uniform depth.

Stab wound

Penetrating injury deeper than it is wide; can damage internal organs, causing hemorrhage and death.

Chop wound

Heavy, cutting injury caused by an axe or machete; often involves bone fractures.

Defense wounds

Injuries sustained while trying to fend off an attack; commonly on forearms and hands.

Hesitation wounds

Superficial cuts associated with suicidal attempts; often multiple and parallel.

Ligature strangulation

Asphyxia caused by tightening a cord or rope around the neck; typically leaves a horizontal mark.

Manual strangulation

Asphyxia caused by compressing the neck with hands; may cause petechiae, hyoid fracture, or thyroid cartilage fracture.

Smothering

Asphyxia caused by blocking the nose and mouth; often seen in infant homicides.

Drowning

Asphyxia caused by submersion in liquid; may find frothy edema in airways and water in lungs.

Dry drowning

Laryngospasm without aspiration of fluid; can occur after near-drowning events.

Contact wound

Gunshot wound with the muzzle pressed against the skin; often leaves distinctive markings.

Entrance wound

Point where a projectile enters the body; typically smaller than exit wound.

Exit wound

Point where a projectile exits the body; often larger and more irregular than entrance wound.

Tangential wound

A gunshot wound that grazes the surface of the body without penetrating deeply.

Ricochet wound

A gunshot wound caused by a bullet that has deflected off another surface before striking the body.

Powder tattooing

deposition of gunpowder on the skin.

SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)

Unexplained death of an infant under one year old; diagnosis of exclusion after thorough investigation.

Shaken Baby Syndrome

Abusive head trauma in infants; causes subdural hematoma, retinal hemorrhages, and brain injury.

Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy

Caregiver induces illness in another person, typically a child, to gain attention or sympathy.

Forensic toxicology

Analysis of biological samples for drugs and poisons; helps determine cause and manner of death.

Postmortem interval (PMI)

Time elapsed since death; estimated using rigor mortis, livor mortis, algor mortis, and decomposition.

Chain of custody

Documented chronological history of evidence handling; ensures integrity and admissibility in court.

Forensic odontology

Application of dental science to legal investigations; used for identification and bite mark analysis.

Forensic anthropology

Analysis of skeletal remains to determine age, sex, stature, and ancestry; helps identify unknown individuals.

Forensic pathology

Medical specialty focused on determining the cause and manner of death through autopsy and other methods.

Medical examiner

Physician trained in forensic pathology; investigates sudden, unexpected, or violent deaths.

Coroner

Elected official responsible for investigating deaths; may or may not be a physician.

Exhumation

removal of a body from a grave.

Blunt force trauma

non-penetrating injuries caused by impact with a dull, solid object.

Sharp force trauma

injuries resulting from sharp objects.

Marbling

pattern of discoloration on the skin.

Hanging

form of strangulation.

Strangulation

resulting from external pressure on the neck.

Suffocation

resulting from lack of oxygen.

Incised wound

caused by a sharp object.

Exsanguination

severe loss of blood.

Maceration

occurs in utero.

Putrid odor

associated with decomposition.

Skull Fracture

caused by significant head trauma.

Subdural Hematoma

collection of blood between the dura and arachnoid.

Epidural Hematoma

collection of blood between the skull and dura mater.

Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

bleeding into the subarachnoid space.

Gunshot Residue (GSR)

particles expelled from a firearm upon firing.

Trajectory Analysis

Determining the path of a projectile.

Tool Mark Analysis

Examining marks left by tools.

Arson Investigation

Determining the origin and cause of a fire.

Explosives Analysis

Identifying explosive materials.

Bite Mark Analysis

matching bite marks to a suspect's dentition.

Voice Analysis

Identifying or comparing voices.

DNA Profiling

Creating a unique genetic fingerprint for identification.

Nuclear DNA

DNA found in the nucleus of cells.

Mitochondrial DNA

DNA found in the mitochondria of cells.

Short Tandem Repeats (STRs)

regions of DNA used in DNA profiling

Electrophoresis

separating DNA fragments.

Class Characteristics

general characteristics shared by a group.

Individual Characteristics

unique features specific to one item.

Toxicology

study of poisons & drugs.

Drug Metabolism

how drugs are processed in the body.

LD50 (Lethal Dose, 50%)