Forensics- Ch. 10 Death, Decomposition, And Forensic Anthropology

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death

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The cessation or end of life; characterized by irreversible stopping of blood circulation and brain activity

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autolysis

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The destruction of cells or tissues by their own enzymes; this process begins when the heart stops beating, oxygen is deprived from body cells, and the cells begin to die

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autopsy

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Term for a post-mortem examination; a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death

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manner

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of death The means by which a person died (natural, accidental, suicidal, homicidal, or undetermined)

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cause

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of death The reason a person died; examples include disease, cancer, hanging, suffocation, etc.

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mechanism

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of death The specific body failure that brought about the cessation of life

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time

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of death When a person died

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allows detectives to include or exclude suspects based on their alibis

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Why is time of death important?

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alibi

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A claim that a suspect was elsewhere when an act is alleged to have taken place

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natural

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Category of manner of death resulting failure of body functions due to old age or disease

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undetermined

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Category used when manner of death cannot be determined

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homicidal

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Category of manner of death resulting from murder (death caused by another individual)

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suicidal

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Category of manner of death resulting from the intentional killing of oneself

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accidental

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Category of manner of death resulting from an unplanned event, such as car accident or fall

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natural

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The most common manner of death on death certificates

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proximate

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This term refers to an underlying cause of death, as opposed to the final cause

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exsanguination

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Scientific term for bleeding to death

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pulmonary arrest

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Scientific phrase for a heart attack

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asphyxiation

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Scientific term for strangulation or lack of oxygen

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livor mortis

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"Death color"; the settling of the blood in the lower portion of the body, causing a purplish red discoloration of the skin

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lividity

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The pooling of blood; occurs during livor mortis

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positioning

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of the body during the first 8 hours of death Livor mortis not only helps approximate time of death, what else can it help determine?

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victim was moved

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What does livor mortis discoloration on many parts of the victim body indicate?

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victim was face down

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What does livor mortis discoloration on the front of the victim body indicate?

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2

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How many hours after death does the livor mortis discoloration usually appear?

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8

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How many hours after death does the livor mortis discoloration becomes permanent?

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rigor mortis

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"Death stiffness"; stiffening of the joints and muscles of a body a few hours after death, caused by lack of oxygen to cells and calcium buildup in the muscles

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12

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How many hours after death does rigor mortis stiffness peak?

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36

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How many hours after death does rigor mortis stiffness disappear?

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slow it down

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What do cooler temperatures due to the onset of rigor mortis? (Choices: slow it down, speed it up, or keep it the same?)

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algor mortis

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"Death heat"; the change in body temperature following death- generally a steady decline until matching the ambient temperature

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liver

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In order to determine the temperature of a corpse, forensic investigators insert a thermometer into what organ?

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1.4

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During the first 12 hours after death, a body cools at what rate? (how many degrees per hour? be specific)

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The location of food in the digestive tract helps scientists estimate how long after a person ate, that they died

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How do stomach and intestinal contents help determine time of death?

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the surface of the eyes dry out and a thin film will appear on the eyes in 2-3 hours

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What two things happen to the eyes after death?

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forensic entomology

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The application and study of insects to criminal matters

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PMI

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What do we call the time between death and the discovery of the body? (abbreviation)

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postmortem interval

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What does PMI stand for?

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the corpse may have been moved

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If insects from another region are found on a corpse what does that suggest?

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blowflies

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One of the first insects to arrive at a dead body

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decomposition give off an odor which attracts insects to lay their eggs on the body

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Why are insects attracted to dead bodies?

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body farm

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Nickname for the University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility which studies human decomposition

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Bass

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Last name of the founder of the University of Tennessee Anthropological Research Facility

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Advanced decay

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Stage of decomposition in which the body begins to dry and preserve itself. Most of the flesh is gone; odor and insect activity decrease.

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dry remains

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Stage of decomposition recognizable by a loss of everything on the body except dried up bone

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fresh

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Stage of decomposition that begins almost instantly after death during which livor, rigor, and algor mortis occur; blisters may appear at the surface of the skin

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active decay

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Stage of decomposition also known as Black Putrefaction; recognizable by a great loss in mass, due largely to feedings by maggots and other insects. Parts of flesh may be black and corpse gives off an even stronger odor; the body may collapse.

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bloat

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Stage of decomposition that is mostly due to the activities of microorganisms; characterized by the production of gases which gives rise to the bloated appearance of the decomposing body and strong odor. The skin turns a greenish color as blood decomposes and may break apart causing fluids to flow out from the openings

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putrefaction

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Another name for the Bloat stage of decomposition

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skeletonization

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Another name for the Dry Remains stage of decomposition

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adipocere

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Wax layer formed during the advanced decay stage of decomposition

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young

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Who decomposes faster? Young or old?

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overweight

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Who decomposes faster? Overweight or average?

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naked

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Who decomposes faster? Clothes or naked?

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sick

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Who decomposes faster? Sick or healthy?

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70-99

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In what temperature range do bodies decompose the fastest?

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necropsy

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Term for a post-mortem examination on a non-human animal

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homicide,children, unusual

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Three types of deaths that require an autopsy

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elderly, terminal illness

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Two types of deaths that DO NOT require an autopsy

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forensic, clinical

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Two types of autopsies

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medical examiner

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Name for the appointed forensic pathologist who performs an autopsy; also known as a coroner

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diener

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Name for the morgue attendant who is responsible for moving and cleaning the body and, in some cases, assisting in the autopsy

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photographed, x-rayed

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What two things are done to the body before it is removed from the body bag?

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placed in bags

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What often happens to the hands of a victim before they are placed into a body bag?

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body block

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Term for the rubber or plastic brick placed under the patient's back that causes the corpse's chest to protrude forward while the arms and neck fall back

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Y

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What shape is typically used for an autopsy incision?

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organ block

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Term for the entire organ set pulled out in one piece during an autopsy

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4 hours

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How long does the average autopsy take?

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incision

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Term for type of open wound that involves clean cuts made by sharp objects, such as knives, razors or pieces of glass

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abrasion

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Term for type of open wound that involves scraping of the outer skin layer caused by friction between the skin and a rough surface; commonly called a scrape

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avulsion

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Term for type of open wound that results in severe tearing of tissues, often resulting in hanging skin or complete tearing

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gunshot

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Term for type of open wound that results from a firearm

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laceration

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Term for type of open wound that involves tear-like wounds, usually caused by blunt objects

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puncture

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Term for type of open wound usually caused by nails, needles or other small pointed objects

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antemortem

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Term used for an injury that occurred before death

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perimortem

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Term used for an injury that occurred at the time of death

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postmortem

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Term used for an injury that occurred after the time of death

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cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous

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The three most important body systems to which an injury can lead to sudden death

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reproductive

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The least essential body system needed for survival

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forensic anthropology

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The examination of human skeletal remains for law enforcement agencies to determine the identity of unidentified bones

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Dwight

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Scientist (last name) known as the "Father of Forensic Anthropology"

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Krogman

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Scientist (last name) who wrote the "Guide to the Identification of Human Skeletal Material" that is still used by forensic anthropologists today

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JPAC

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Organization founded in Hawaii after WWII to find, identify, and return the bodies of soldiers to their families (abbreviation)

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ABFA

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Abbreviation for the American Board created to certify professional forensic anthropologists and to set professional standards

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FORDISC

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Abbreviation for the computer program that enables forensic anthropologists to perform metric analyses on skeletal remains based on data from contemporary populations in order to determine sex, ancestry, and height from body measurements

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osteobiography

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The story of a life told by the bones of a victim

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206

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Number of bones in a normal adult

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300

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Approximate number of bones in a baby

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female

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This sex tends to have a skeleton that is more smooth, less knobby, and smaller than that of the opposite sex

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skull

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This part of a skeleton is usually larger and has more prominent features than that of the female

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pelvis

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Looking at this bone is the easiest method of determining the sex of a skeleton

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femur

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The angle of this bone in relation to the pelvis is greater in females, and straighter in males

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cartilage

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The age of a person can be determined by examining particular bones and by looking for the presence or absence of this

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humerus, femur

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Looking at these two bones can help determine the approximate height of an individual

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skull, femur

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Looking at these two bones can help determine the approximate race of an individual

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mitochondrial

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This type of DNA is better preserved in bones and can be extracted from bone, profiled and then compared with living relatives on the mother's side of the family to determine the identity of skeletal remains

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scapula

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Term for the shoulder blade; the bone that connects the humerus with the clavicle

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clavicle

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Term for the collar bone

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humerus

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Term for the upper arm bone

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carpals

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Term for the wrist bones

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metacarpals

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Term for the bones in the palm of the hand

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phalanges

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Term for the bones of the fingers and toes

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radius

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Term for the bone in lower arm- thumb side

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ulna

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Term for the bone in lower arm- pinkie finger side

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cranium

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Another term for the skull, specifically the part that encloses the brain

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sternum

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Term for the breast bone

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fibula

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Term for the small bone in lower leg

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tibia

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Term for the large bone in lower leg

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femur

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Term for the bone in upper leg

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tarsals

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Term for the ankle bones

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metatarsals

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Term for the bones in the instep of the foot

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patella

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Term for the knee cap

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mandible

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Term for the jawbone

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vertebralcolumn

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Another term for the backbone or spine

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pectoral girdle

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The skeletal framework that provides attachment for the forelimbs or pectoral fins, usually consisting of the scapulas and clavicles

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pelvic girdle

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The enclosing structure formed by the pelvis, providing attachment for the lower limbs

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ribs

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12 paired arches of bone that form the skeletal structure of the chest wall