forensic medicine theory

Algor mortis

The cooling of the body after death, influenced by factors like temperature, humidity, and wind.

Rigor mortis

Postmortem muscle stiffening due to biochemical changes in the muscles, starting around 1-3 hours after death.

Livor mortis

Postmortem lividity or the settling of blood in the body due to gravity, with stages including hypostasis, stasis, and imbibition.

Decomposition

The breakdown of tissues after death, leading to the release of gases and nutrients.

Putrefaction

The process of decay and rotting of a body, involving the action of bacteria and enzymes.

Mummification

A type of preservation of a corpse, often in dry environments, preventing decay.

Adipocere formation

The transformation of body fat into a waxy substance postmortem, aiding in preservation.

Postmortem changes

Alterations that occur in a body after death, including cooling, stiffening, and lividity.

Forensic veterinary

The application of veterinary knowledge to legal investigations involving animals.

Lividity differentiation

Distinguishing between postmortem lividity and bruises through examination and color changes.

Livor mortis stages

Hypostasis, stasis, and imbibition, indicating different stages of postmortem lividity.

ATP activation

The energy source for muscle contraction, involved in the mechanism of rigor mortis.

Phosphagen system

One of the metabolic systems supplying ATP for muscle function, crucial in rigor mortis development.

Glycogen-lactic acid system

Another metabolic system providing ATP, contributing to rigor mortis through decomposition.

Aerobic system

A metabolic pathway supplying ATP, playing a role in the development of rigor mortis.

Actin-myosin complex

Formation in muscles during rigor mortis, leading to muscle stiffness.

Livor mortis color changes

Indicative of different conditions like carbon monoxide poisoning or hydrogen sulfide exposure.

Cadaverous rigor mortis

Stiffening of the body postmortem, affecting skeletal and smooth muscles, and even hollow organs.

Rigor Mortis

Stiffening of muscles after death due to muscle protein coagulation, influenced by factors like environmental temperature, cause of death, and physical activity prior to death.

Antemortem Conditions

Conditions or signs that occur before death, such as unequal pupil diameter and cardiac hypertrophy, which can be mistaken for postmortem signs like rigor mortis.

Postmortem Changes

Changes that occur in a body after death, including transudation where fluid accumulates in body cavities and desiccation which is the drying of a corpse.

Decomposition

Breakdown of bodies of living organisms after death, influenced by factors like burial conditions and environmental factors like temperature and oxygen availability.

Autolysis

Self-digestion of tissues by intracellular enzymes without microbial involvement, occurring more rapidly in organs with higher enzyme levels.

Forensic Entomology

Study of insects found in corpses to determine time of death, movement of the body, and other relevant information.

Insect Colonization

Insects like flies and beetles colonize corpses in a predictable pattern, aiding in estimating the time of death and other forensic investigations.

Mummification

Preservation of a body due to natural causes or intentional processes, occurring in favorable conditions like cold, arid areas or with good ventilation.

Mummification

The process of preserving a body, either intentionally or naturally, through various methods such as drying, burial in specific environments like sand or salts, or through intentional preservation techniques.

Adipocere

A waxy or greasy substance formed by the hydrolysis and hydrogenation of adipose tissue in the body, occurring in damp, warm, anaerobic conditions, leading to the preservation of the body.

Putrefaction

The process of decay or rotting of a body, influenced by factors like temperature, humidity, air flow, and the presence of microorganisms, resulting in the release of unpleasant odors due to the formation of specific compounds.

Decomposition

The sequence of changes a body undergoes after death, including discoloration, bloating, desiccation, and the consumption of soft tissues by various organisms.

Exhumation

The act of digging out a buried corpse for purposes such as relocating the burial site, identifying the body, determining the cause of death, or conducting further examinations.

Ligatures

Strangulation marks found on the trachea and esophagus, used to differentiate between primary atelectasis and secondary atelectasis in the lungs during forensic examinations.

Mechanical asphyxia

A type of asphyxia caused by external compression on the chest or abdomen, leading to restricted respiratory movements and potentially affecting cardiac function and blood supply to the brain.

Positional or postural asphyxia

A type of asphyxia where the position of an individual compromises the ability to breathe.

Drowning

A form of asphyxia where the airway is blocked by water, leading to suffocation.

Strangulation

The act of compressing the neck, which can lead to unconsciousness or death by restricting oxygen flow to the brain.

Choking and Smothering

Methods of asphyxia where the airway is obstructed, leading to suffocation.

Ligature marks

Marks left around the neck from a ligature used in strangulation, which can include bruising, abrasions, and fractures.

Pulmonary edema

Fluid accumulation in the lungs, often seen in cases of drowning and strangulation.

Hyoid bone fracture

A break in the hyoid bone, commonly associated with strangulation.

Vascular obstruction

The main mechanism of death in strangulation, where blood vessels are compressed, leading to oxygen deprivation.

Manual strangulation

Strangulation using hands, fingers, or other extremities, which can cause damage to the neck structures and bones.

Petechiae

Small red or purple spots on the skin or mucous membranes, often seen in cases of asphyxia.

Lesions

Physical signs or injuries observed on the body, such as bleeding, congestion, petechiae, or fractures, which can provide important clues in forensic investigations.

Smothering

A form of asphyxia caused by the obstruction of the air passage above the epiglottis, leading to death due to lack of oxygen, often through methods like placing objects on the face or live burial.

Struggle findings

Injuries like abrasions, contusions, and petechiae that indicate a struggle or resistance before death, commonly found in cases of traumatic asphyxia.

Suffocation

Death caused by the obstruction of the air passages below the epiglottis, leading to respiratory compromise and lack of oxygen, often due to aspiration of foreign bodies or inhalation of substances.

Compression asphyxia

Also known as crush asphyxia, it occurs when external pressure on the chest or abdomen interferes with normal respiration, resulting in death due to lack of oxygen.

Obturation asphyxia

Asphyxia resulting from the obstruction of the upper airways by a foreign body, preventing the passage of air into the lungs and leading to respiratory compromise.

Drowning

Asphyxia due to submersion in water or other liquids, with different mechanisms and effects depending on the type of liquid and circumstances.

Diatoms

Microscopic algae with silica coats found in water, important for forensic investigations in drowning cases to determine the location and time of death.

Burns

Injuries caused by exposure to heat, electricity, chemicals, radiation, or friction, with different types like electrothermal burns, thermal burns, and radiant heat burns, each with specific characteristics and effects on the body.

Asphyxia

Condition caused by lack of oxygen leading to unconsciousness or death.

Vesicle

Small blister-like elevation on the skin filled with fluid.

Pulmonary fat embolism

Presence of fat particles in the blood vessels of the lungs.

Epidural hemorrhage

Bleeding between the skull and the outermost covering of the brain.

Thrombosis

Formation of a blood clot in a blood vessel.

Embolism

Blockage of a blood vessel by a foreign substance like a blood clot.

Smoke toxicity

Harmful effects of inhaling gases like carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and others produced in fires.

CO poisoning

Poisoning due to inhaling carbon monoxide, characterized by cherry red skin.

Cyanide gas poisoning

Poisoning due to inhaling cyanide gas, causing various symptoms including conjunctivitis.

Cytology

Study of cells, including burned ciliated cells and soot particles in the lower airways and lungs.

Coagulation necrosis

Death of tissue due to lack of blood supply, leading to blood clotting.

Cadaver burns

Burns on a deceased body, important for determining if the animal was alive or dead before the fire.

Soot

Black powdery or flaky substance produced by incomplete combustion.

Pugilistic posture

Posture of the body with flexed arms and legs due to heat-induced muscle contraction.

Systemic effects of burns

Effects of burns on the whole body, including shock, organ failure, and fluid imbalances.

Rule of nine

Method for estimating the percentage of total body surface area affected by burns.

Hyperthermia

Condition of elevated body temperature due to heat exposure.

Heat stroke

Condition of severe hyperthermia with symptoms like high body temperature and organ congestion.

Hypothermia

Condition of abnormally low body temperature due to cold exposure.

Frostbite

Freezing of body tissues due to exposure to extreme cold temperatures.

Frostbite

Tissue injury caused by freezing due to exposure to cold temperatures, resulting in damage such as edema, blisters, and necrosis.

Hemorrhagia

The escape of blood from ruptured blood vessels, observed in various organs like the gastric mucosa, renal pelvis, and internal organs.

Edema

Swelling caused by fluid retention in body tissues, often observed in conditions like frostbite and electrocution.

Electrocution

Death or injury caused by electric shock, with factors like voltage, resistance, and pathway influencing the severity of the damage.

Necrosis

Death of cells or tissues due to disease, injury, or lack of blood supply, seen in severe cases of frostbite and electrical burns.

Amperage

The measure of electrical current flow, directly related to voltage and inversely related to resistance, influencing the impact of electrocution.

Resistance

The hindrance to the flow of electrical current, with different tissues like bone, fat, and skin offering varying levels of resistance.

Electrical burns

Injuries caused by electric current passing through the body, characterized by specific histopathological features like metal deposition and tissue destruction.

Lightning strike

Injuries or death caused by a lightning bolt, leading to various effects like paralysis, burns, and internal organ damage.

Myocardial infarct

Death of heart muscle tissue due to a lack of blood supply, leading to conditions like cardiomyopathy and sudden cardiac arrest.

Hemothorax

Accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs.

Vascular embolism

Blockage of a blood vessel by an embolus, leading to restricted blood flow.

Thromboembolia

Formation of a blood clot that travels through the bloodstream and obstructs a vessel.

Organ ruptures

Breakage or tearing of internal organs, often caused by trauma or underlying conditions.

Zoophilia

Sexual attraction to animals, a form of paraphilia.

Bestiality

Engaging in sexual activities with animals.

Veterinary traumatology

Study of injuries and trauma in animals, including blunt and sharp force injuries.

Abrasions

Superficial skin lesions caused by blunt force trauma, dragging, or crushing.

Contusions

Bruises resulting from hemorrhage in the skin and deeper tissues due to trauma.

Lacerations

Irregular and jagged wounds caused by tearing of soft body tissue.

Fractures

Disruption of bones and teeth due to blunt force trauma, classified by energy levels and forces involved.

Skull fractures

Breakage in the bones of the skull, categorized as simple or complex based on the pattern.

Incised wounds

Cuts or slashes on the skin caused by sharp-edged instruments, with clean and sharp edges.

Intracranial hemorrhage

Bleeding within the skull, occurring in extradural, subdural, or subarachnoid spaces.

Stab wounds

Puncture wounds caused by sharp or pointed objects such as knives, scissors, screwdrivers, pens, forks, broken glass, ice picks. The sharpness of the instrument and the thickness of the skin and tissues are important factors. The length and depth of the wound correlate with the type of weapon used, and the depth indicates the level of force applied.

Chop wounds

Injuries caused by heavy objects with a cutting edge like machetes, axes, and meat cleavers, or by a sharp object wielded with a significant amount of force. These wounds can involve a combination of sharp and blunt force injuries, including cutting of skin and deep tissues, abrasions, lacerations, contusions, and damage to bones.

Ballistics

The science dealing with the investigation of firearms, ammunitions, and the issues arising from their use. It includes the study of the trajectory, velocity, and impact of projectiles fired from firearms.

Firearm

An instrument that discharges a projectile by the expansive force of gases produced by the combustion of propellant in a closed space. Firearms are classified based on their purpose into categories like fighting, training, sports, hunting, civilian, and for special purposes.