Medical Forensics Certification Exam Review

Comprehensive flashcards covering the YouScience Medical Forensics certification exam blueprint, laboratory safety standards, crime scene procedures, trace evidence, fingerprinting, death and blood analysis, anthropology, toxicology, and DNA technology.

What are the exam number, number of items, and total points for the Medical Forensics industry certification exam?

The exam number is $730$, consisting of $65$ items and a total of $73$ points.

What prerequisite and recommended course length are specified for the Medical Forensics certification?

The prerequisite is Biology, and the recommended course length is One Year.

According to the exam blueprint, which three standards account for the largest percentages of the exam?

Death Investigation ($16\%$), Fingerprint Identification ($15\%$), and Blood Investigation ($15\%$).

What do the federal investigation acronyms ATF, DEA, DPAA, and DFSC stand for?

ATF stands for Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; DEA stands for Drug Enforcement Administration; DPAA stands for Defense POW.MIA Accounting Agency; and DFSC stands for Defense Forensics Science Center.

How does the curriculum categorize the primary types of evidence in Standard 1?

Testimonial evidence (including eyewitness written statements) and physical evidence (subdivided into individual and class).

What are the two key components of observing systematically to become an accurate observer?

Minimizing bias and documenting observations through written and visual records.

What are the three items of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) specified to protect both evidence and lab workers?

Lab coats or aprons, gloves, and safety glasses.

What common behaviors or personal care items present a danger of evidence contamination in the laboratory?

Food, drink, cosmetics, lotion, eye drops, and contact lenses.

What are the standard operating rules for maintaining a laboratory notebook or form?

Include identifying information (Name, Date, Case number/Assignment number), always write in ink, make corrections properly, and document material, procedures, data/results, analysis, and conclusions.

What information must be written on evidence packaging when processing a crime scene?

Case number, Date, Agency, Name of Collector, and simple descriptions.

What five factors can compromise a crime scene and its evidence?

Contamination, chain of custody, environmental conditions, preservation of the crime scene, and processing at the lab.

Where are nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA located within a hair sample?

Nuclear DNA is associated with the root, while mitochondrial DNA is associated with the shaft.

What are the three phases of the hair growth cycle?

Anagen, catagen, and telogen phases.

How are natural and synthetic fibers classified in the forensic analysis of trace evidence?

Natural fibers include wool, silk, cotton, cashmere, and hemp; synthetic fibers include polyester, spandex, acrylic, and nylon.

What are the 3 fundamental principles of fingerprinting as a means of personal identification?

Uniqueness, Persistent, and Classifiable.

What constitutes first-level and second-level detail in fingerprint identification?

First-level detail consists of patterns; second-level detail consists of minutiae (such as bifurcations and ridge endings).

What are the three basic fingerprint pattern categories and their sub-classifications?

Loops (Right, Left), Whorls (Plain, Double, Central, Accidental), and Arches (Plain, Tented).

What does each step of the ACE-V method of fingerprint comparison entail?

Analysis (assessing if a print is suitable for comparison), Comparison (side-by-side view of known and suspect prints), Evaluation (deciding if prints are identification, exclusion, or inconclusive), and Verification (independent analysis and evaluation by another examiner).

How do latent, plastic, and patent (visible) fingerprints differ in processing and documentation?

Latent prints are developed using physical and chemical processing; plastic prints are examined using a mold (wax, soap, putty); patent prints are documented using digital photography.

What are the four primary cellular and liquid components of blood?

Plasma, Erythrocytes (red blood cells), Leukocytes (white blood cells), and Thrombocytes (platelets).

What types of blood spatter patterns are analyzed in medical forensics?

Splatter, drip, castoff, transfer, swipe, wipe, projected, expirated, and void.

What directional terms are applied during an autopsy in a death investigation?

Superior, Inferior, Anterior, Posterior, Dorsal, Ventral, Medial, Lateral, Proximal, and Distal.

What major organs are located within the thoracic cavity during an internal autopsy examination?

Lungs, esophagus, trachea, and diaphragm.

What are the five manners of death defined in medical forensics?

Accidental, Natural, Suicide, Homicide, and Undetermined.

How does accidental death differ from natural death?

Accidental death occurs under circumstances that neither the victim nor someone else brought about and was not reasonably foreseeable; natural death is caused solely by disease or a natural process.

What incision technique is utilized during the external/internal transition of an autopsy?

A Y-shaped incision.

What are the stages and physical indicators of decomposition used to estimate postmortem interval?

Fresh, Active Decay, Autolysis/Putrefaction, Bloat, Marbling, Skin blistering, Skin slippage, Advanced Decay, Skeletonization, Saponification, and Mummification.

What are the four developmental stages in the life cycle of common insects associated with decomposition?

Egg, Larva, Pupa, and Adult.

Which skeletal bones and features are evaluated to determine the biological sex of human remains?

Skull, jaw, brow ridge, pelvis, and femur.

How can forensic anthropologists differentiate between ante mortem and peri mortem bone injuries?

By identifying evidence of healing in ante mortem injuries, which is absent in peri mortem injuries.

What are the four legal and regulatory classifications of substances identified in drug toxicology?

Controlled substances (Schedule $1$-$5$), Regulated substances (prescription only), Restricted substances (alcohol, tobacco, etc.), and Unrestricted substances (over the counter).

What four physiological drug classes are studied regarding user symptoms and overdose effects?

Stimulants, Depressants, Narcotics/Opioids, and Hallucinogens.

Through what two testing media can blood alcohol content (BAC) be measured?

Through blood and through breath.

What do the forensic DNA acronyms PCR, STR, and CODIS stand for?

PCR stands for Polymerase Chain Reaction; STR stands for Short Tandem Repeat; CODIS stands for Combined DNA Index System.

What minimum average score on the rating scale is required to pass the Medical Forensics performance standards?

A performance standard average score of $8$ or higher on the rating scale.