Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Intro To Forensics > Bloodstains > Flashcards

Bloodstains Flashcards

(57 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Very large blood drops form a _____ shape

A

Hamburger bun

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Most blood drops form a ___ as they move through the air

A

Nearly perfect sphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Contact/Collapse

A

Droplet makes initial contact with the surface and collapses from the bottom up

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Displacement

A

Blood droplet’s energy is directed outwards, causing blood to collect into a disc-like rim

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Dispersion

A

Motion of the rim is redirected upwards; spines formed during prior step extend further outwards

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Retraction

A

Surface tension pulls the stain back flat into the substrate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Rules to keep in mind when measuring bloodstains:

A

-Measure only the main body of the bloodstain
-Choose a point in the stain that naturally completes the ellipse or circle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

The place where there is the most blood is typically…

A

The end of the incident

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Satellite Stains

A

Smaller bloodstains that originated from a parent stain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Spines

A

Long lines coming from circular portion of a stain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Tails

A

Small circles on a spine(?)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Defined as the force that pulls the surface molecules of a liquid toward its interior, decreasing the surface area and causing the liquid to resist penetration?

A

Surface Tension

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is the name for patterns that display an absence of bloodstains in otherwise continuous patterns of staining?

A

Void Patterns

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What general category of stains includes transfer, flow patterns, saturation stains, and stains from dripping blood?

A

Passive

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

A stain is approximately twice as long as it is wide. What can we say about the angle of impact?

A

It was close to 30°

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

The terms low, medium, and high velocity impact patterns have been replaced by SWGSTAIN with the term…

A

Impact Stains

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Blood will not break into smaller droplets or spatters unless what is disrupted?

A

Surface Tension

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What type of target surface a drop of blood strikes will create little if any spatter?

A

Smooth ceramic tile

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Bloodstain vs bloodstain pattern

A

Bloodstains are one deposit of blood on a surface, patterns are multiple

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How much blood is present in humans?

A

4-6 liters

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Blood is composed of…

A

Hematocrit & Plasma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Surface tensions pulls blood ____ until ____

A

Into a sphere; acted upon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Under surface tension, liquid behaves as….

24
Q

Drip

Study These Flashcards
A

Blood that falls under gravity ONLY

25
Satellite spatter
Produced from the main drip
26
The ____ of the bloodstains increase as the height ___
Diameter; increases
27
Impact spatter
Object striking liquid blood -Drops move outwards around the parent stain in directions of force
28
Cast-off pattern
Blood is released or thrown from a blood-bearing object in motion -Roughly linear/curved -Shape changes from round to elongated
29
Cast off appearance depends on
Location and shape of target Speed of the swing Size of the object Number of swings
30
Projected pattern
Blood exiting the body under pressure -Very high volume -Very bright red
31
Expirated blood
Blown out of an orifice (nose, mouth) Often diluted & presence of mucus
32
Area of convergence depicts a ____
2D point of impact
33
The area of convergence is found ______
Where lines intersect along the axis of the stain
34
Area of origin
Intersection of angles in 3D
35
How do we find the area of origin?
Find the AOC Find angle of impact for each stain Converge the angles
36
Accompanying Drop
A small blood drop produced as a by-product of drop formation
37
Altered Stain
A bloodstain with characteristics that indicate a physical change has occurred
38
Angle of Impact
The acute angle (alpha), relative to the plane of a target, at which a blood drop strikes the target
39
Bubble ring
An outline within a bloodstain resulting from air in the blood
40
Cessation Pattern
A bloodstain pattern resulting from blood drops released from an object due to its abrupt deceleration
41
Flow Pattern
A bloodstain pattern resulting from the movement of a volume of blood on a surface due to gravity or movement of the target
42
Perimeter Stain
An altered bloodstain which consists of its edge characteristics, the central area having been partially or entirely removed
43
Saturation Stain
A bloodstain resulting from the accumulation of liquid blood in an absorbent material
44
Serum Stain
The stain resulting from the liquid portion of blood (serum) that separates during coagulation
45
Splash Pattern
A bloodstain pattern created from a large volume of liquid blood falling onto a surface.
46
Swipe Pattern
transfer of blood from a moving “dirty” source onto another one
47
Features of an impact spatter
Fan-like pattern with a variety of sizes, larger stains towards one focus; all blood patterns together in one region
48
The “tail” of a bloodstain pattern points in the….
Direction of travel (Away from the source)
49
Which stains can you determine area of origin for?
Impact Forward Back Sometimes cast-off
50
Back spatter
Blood that comes back towards the point of origin
51
Forward spatter
Blood that travels with the direction of travel
52
Relation between saturation stains and transfer stains
Saturations stains can obscure or create transfer stains if still wet
53
Transfer stain
Contact between blood bearing surface and another surface
54
Wipe pattern
An object moves through an existing stains We usually can see remnants of original stain shape
55
What are some criticisms of bloodstain analysis?
Highly subjective Limited testing of basic science Limited education requirements
56
The area of origin is ____ oriented in a _____ line ____ from the area of ______
always; straight; 90 degrees; convergence
57
Formula for determining the angle of impact
sin^-1 times width, divided by length

Intro To Forensics (19 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions