1.2.2 Time of Death and 1.2.3 Forensic Toxicology
Time of Death
Terminology: Time of Death
Physiological time of death: The time when the decedent’s vital functions stopped
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
Timeline of Changes
algor mortis: the change in body temperature after death
rigor mortis: the stiffening of joints and muscles after death
livor mortis: pooling of blood after death, leading to purplish red skin discoloration. Also called lividity.
Write the 6 events in the death timeline: Algor mortis, clouding of corneas, rigor mortis, livor mortis, decomposition, insect activity.
Rate of Cooling Experiment
Why is a control variable important?:It serves as a base for comparison.
What was the dependent variable?:The temperature of the water/body.
What was the independent variable?:The time
Determining Anna’s Time of Death
When did Anna Garcia die?: 11 pm, or 13.47 hours before.
What is the Glaister Equation?: (98.4-rectal temperature)/1.5
Forensic Entomologist: scientists who study bugs. Different insects can tell the time of death and location.
Forensic Toxicology
What is Toxicology?
Paracelsus (1493–1541): All things are poison; only the dose makes it poison.
Toxicology: A field of science that studies the effects of chemicals on the human body.
Toxicant: Manufactured chemicals.
Forensic Toxicology: Identifies substances that may have played a role in the death.
Digestive system: An organ system that breaks down food to extract energy and nutrients, then evacuates remaining waste.
\n
Digesting the Digestive System
What is the main function of the Digestive System?: Breaks down food.
Nutrients: A substance that the body needs to stay healthy.
Molecules: A group of atoms held together by chemical bonds.
What is the process of Digestion?: Digestion takes nutrients and molecules from food and turns the rest into waste. \n What does the body do with extracted molecules?: The body builds body parts, drives chemical reactions,and supplies energy.
metabolism: The chemical reaction processes of breaking down molecules for energy and of using simple building blocks to build up more complex molecules needed for growth and repair.
\n
Inside Anna’s Stomach
Forensic Chemistry: The testing of non-biological substances such as powders or pills to identify or measure them.
What was in the toxicology report?: Caffeine and Asprin.