forensics -- autopsy review

what are the 3 things that must be determined upon a person’s death?

1. manner of death

2. mechanism of death

3. cause of death

forensic scientists/medical experts have identified 4 manners of death…

1. Natural

2. Accidental

3. Homicidal

4. Suicidal

who are the people who examine the cause and manner of a death and recording the results of a death certificate?

1. medical examiner

2. coroner

who is the person that’s trained to perform an autopsy?

pathologists

an ________ can be performed if suspicions arise during a death investigation

autopsy

an autopsy can determine the manner of death and…

cause of death

_________ are medical specialists that are trained to look for evidence that supports the manner of death

pathologists

an autopsy can be further described as one of two types:

1. clinical/medical

   1. focuses on the internal organ findings and medical conditions typically performed in hospitals

2. forensic/medicalegal

   1. investigates death that are sudden, suspicious, or involve legal issues performed by a pathologists

the search for _______ and ________ evidence often extends the confines of the crime scene

physical; biological

who’s communications are essential to secure evidence that may be collected from the body during the autopsy?

the examiner and investigator

what are the steps of an autopsy?

1. external examination

2. internal examination

3. toxicology testing

4. microscopic testing

5. autopsy report

anatomical position

the standardized pose where the hands are facing foward

proximal

a location closer to the origin

distal

a position farther away from the origin

superior

a position or structure that is above or higher than another

inferior

situation below or towards the feet to another body part

anterior

the front or front-facing part of a structure

posterior

the back or rear part of a structure or body

medial

the direction towards the midline of the body

lateral

the side of the body or a body part

superficial

located closer to the surface of the body

deep

a body’s position farther away from the surface of the body

flexion

where two body parts or surfaces move closer together

extension

the straightening of a joining that increases the angle between two body parts

abduction

the movement of a part away from the midline

adduction

the movement of a body part toward the anatomical midline of the body