Combined discuss and explinations exam 1

Question 1

Explain the requirements of a forensic scientist.

Answer 1

1. Identify human remains (main job)
2. Document the cause of human death
3. Recover human remains
4. Assist in criminal investigations with scientific analysis of evidence

Question 2

Explain the difference between the standard scientific method and the steps in a forensic investigation.

Answer 2

The standard scientific method goes by: hypotheses, tests, experiments, data collection, and analyze
For a forensic investigation since it is an uncontrolled environment with the experiment being the crime scene. So the method would be this: analysis, data collection, experiment, test, and hypotheses.

Question 3

What are the standard steps in a forensic investigation?

Answer 3

• Collect data
  gather witness testimony
  review medical history
• Examination
  conduct autopsy
  toxicology/DNA testing
  -Analysis
  Correlate photographic evidence
• Reporting
  make case repost
  testify if needed

Question 4

Explain the difference between scientific and non-scientific evidence

Answer 4

The difference between Scientific evidence and non-scientific evidence is that scientific evidence consists of real, physical evidence that links the suspect to the incident while non-scientific evidence consists of statements/testimonies made under oath, photos, sketches, or eye-witness statements.

Question 5

Admissibility of evidence standards

Answer 5

Admissible evidence is what it purports to be: It is genuine and not fabricated, contrived, forged, or materially altered.

Question 6

What are the main functions of the skeletons?

Answer 6

Support, Motion, Protection, and Growth

Question 7

what are the components of a bone’s structure?

Answer 7

the outer layer is called compact bone
the inner layer is spongy bone which contains bone marrow
the center is the medullary cavity which has yellow marrow

Question 8

Explain how the hyoid and mandible function and their structures.

Answer 8

Mandible: freely movable joint in the skull; Joins temporal bones

Hyoid bone: only bone that doesn’t articulate with other bones; mid-neck region; movable base for the tongue; attachment point for neck muscles

Question 9

How do the skull bones develop?

Answer 9

When born, fontanels or soft spots are present in the skulls of babies so that they can get through the birth canal.

When growing up, these soft spots start to gradually harden up as the separate bones in the skull suture together.

You can no longer feel the pulse through the fontanels after 22 - 24 months

Question 10

What is the structure and functions of the vertebral column?

Answer 10

the vertebral column consists of
7 cervical vertebra (allows for movement of the head)
12 thoracic vertebra (supports the ribs and internal organs)
5 lumbar vertebra(holds the weight of the body)

inbetween the individual disks in the vertebra are intervertebral disks that cushion and absorb shock to the spine

Question 11

What is the structure and function of the thoracic cage?

Answer 11

made of 12 pairs of ribs and the thoracic vertebrae
protects the vital organs
holds the shoulder girdle and upper limbs
provides attachment sites for many muscles

Question 12

what is the structure and function of the appendicular and axial skeleton?

Answer 12

the appendicular skeleton consists of the bones for the limbs, shoulders, and pelvic girdles that attach them to the body.

the axial skeleton consists of the bones that protect the vital, organs like the skull and ribs.

Question 13

What are the differences between the male and female pelvis?

Answer 13

the hole size

sacrum/coccyx placement (male being more stiff and tucked in)

the pubic arch being more pointy in men and women being more rounded

Question 14

what are the types of bone fractures?

Answer 14

simple
compound
greenstick
comminuted
impacted
stress

Question 15

How are bone fractures healed?

Answer 15

closed reduction: put back in place with hands
Open reduction: surgery

Inflammation: bruising, swelling in the area
Soft callus: tissue repair, growth of new tissues and capillaries
Hard callus: replacing the soft callus with hard spongy bone
Patch: a permanent patch over the broken area
Remodeling: fine-tuning the initial patch for the next 6 months to a year, making the bone stronger than it was before

Question 16

different joint types

Answer 16

Fibrous: immovable like sutures in the skull
Facet joints: Flexible
Synovial joints: like the highly movable joints of the ankles, knees, fingers, and wrists.
Structure:
i) Cartilage
ii) Synovial cavity/fluid
iii) Bursa
iv)Tendons and Ligaments

Question 17

Injury to a joint

Answer 17

a) Dislocation
i) Bone is forced out of normal position in the joint cavity
b) Arthritis
i) Inflammatory jointow to time
disorder
c) Bursitis: inflammation
i) Water in an area usually due to injury
ii) Inflammation of the bursae or synovial membrane
d) Sprain
i) Tendon and ligaments of reinforcing joints are damaged by excessive stretching

Question 18

collecting humans remains process

Answer 18

orderly and careful search of the area
each bone fragment is marked/flagged
making sure to look at the dispersal of found fragments
not disturbing it until photographed and documented

Question 19

What are the steps in analyzing skeletal remains?

Answer 19

Determining if the material found is bone
Determining whether the bone is human or animal
Determining how many individuals are present
Determining how old was the person

Question 20

what are the steps in determining the age of an individual from their bones?

Answer 20

Looking at the epiphysis of specific bones
the stage of skull fusion sutures
Bone density
Rib and pelvic morphology
estimated age ranges: fetal, infant, child, adolescent, young adult, adult, old adult

Question 21

what are the steps in determining stature?

Answer 21

looking at the epiphyseal line on the end knobs of long bones. if under 20, the line with be there and fusion will be in the 20s

Question 22

what are the steps in determining age?

Answer 22

Pubic symphysis
joint morphology
subtle changes in the pelvis, bones, ribs, and remodeling in the cellular structure

Question 23

how do they do reconstruction of an individual’s remains?

Answer 23

figure out as much information about the person’s race, ethnicity, age, sex

Use a tissue thickness sample chart

glue pegs of different lengths to the skull at different points
use clay to fill in the areas, using the pegs as a guide, to get a good feeling of what the skin may have looked like

Question 24

what is the structure of the tooth?

Answer 24

Crown: portion above the gum
Root: portion below the gum
Enamel: outer coating of the tooth
Dentine: the tissue inside of the tooth (white part)
Pulp cavity: the living network canal within the tooth
Root canal: bottom of the tooth point where the blood vessels reach into the pulp cavity

Question 25

When do adult teeth start forming

Answer 25

9 months old

Question 26

When do all primary teeth fall out?

Answer 26

they start to fall out at 6 and stop around 9 years old

Question 27

when are all adult teeth in?

Answer 27

all adult teeth except for wisdom teeth are in usually by 11 years old

Question 28

do wisdom teeth come in?

Answer 28

between the ages of 19 - 21 years old

Question 29

How can dental records identify an individual?

Answer 29

the DNA from the nerve roots can be used for identification
andy dental work like: fillings, caps/crowns, root canals, bridges, different tooth shapes, disorders in the mouth

Question 30

How can dental records and data tell the age, occupation, habits, and identity through bite marks?

Answer 30

Age: from what stage the teeth are in if wisdom teeth are in
occupation: If the person holds things in their mouth. causing wear patterns on the teeth (like holding pins or nails)
Habits: Erosion on the back of the teeth from an eating disorder or alcoholism; also smoking cigarettes or pipes