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.

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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.

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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.