pltw biomed

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. (NOTE: Unnatural deaths are further categorized as an accident, a homicide, or undetermined.)

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

Change in body temperature after death.

rigor mortis

Stiffening of joints and muscles after death.

livor mortis

Pooling of the blood following death that causes a purplish red discoloration of the skin; also referred to as lividity.

toxin

A naturally occurring poison produced by living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, plants, insects, and algae.

toxicant

Manufactured and extracted chemicals such as pesticides, cleaning agents, industrial emissions or by-products, mining by-products, etc. that are in our environment and produce adverse biological effects of any nature.

Presumptive tests

Quick tests that indicate if a type of substance is present but cannot specifically identify a substance.

Confirmatory tests

Specific tests that can determine the exact identity and composition of a substance by pinpointing its specific properties.

Histology

The study of the microscopic anatomy of tissues and histologists are the professionals who perform the work.

Cerebrum

Sight, sounds, and touches.

frontal lobe

Emotion, planning, reasoning, problem solving.

parietal lobe

Integrating sensory info, touch, temperature, pressure, pain.

temporal lobe

Auditory cortex.

occipital lobe

Visual processing.

cerebellum

Balance, posture, coordination.

brainstem

Automatic body functions (breathing, blinking).

chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

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

traumatic brain injury (TBI)

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

Nervous tissues

Composed of specialized cells called neurons, works to receive, interpret, and respond to signals.

Epithelial tissue

Composed of epithelial cells aligned in sheets and connected to one another, found lining the outer surfaces of all organs and blood vessels, in the mouth, and on the surfaces of humans.

Muscle tissue

Makes up the muscles found in the body; can be striated, smooth, or cardiac.

Connective tissue

Supports and connects other tissue types in the body, holding organs in place and enabling other tissues to stretch.