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Forensics > Definitions + Terminology > Flashcards

Definitions + Terminology Flashcards

1
Q

Define cellular death

A

Tissues and their constituent cells are dead. Cessation of respiration and normal metabolic activities. Staggered and differing rates

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2
Q

Define somatic death

A

Irreversibly lose innate personality, unconscious, not aware of and can’t communicate with environment, can’t appreciate sensory stimuli or initiate voluntary movement. Due to insult eg hypoxia

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3
Q

Define brain death

A

Somatic death with spontaneous circulatory and respiratory function. Vegetative state..

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4
Q

Define brainstem death

A

Critical centres dead then therefore need ventilator support

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5
Q

Define death

A

The process of cessation of life - blood circulation and respiration ceased to function with associated loss CNS function. Followed by death of tissues and cells of body.

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6
Q

Define unnatural death (4)

A
  • Sudden, unexpected, unattended, unexplained death
  • Death by application of force or any other physical/chemical factors which directly/indirectly lead to death
  • by act of commission or omission
  • procedure or anaesthetic related death (section 56 of Health professions act 1974 or Health professions amendment act 2007 section 48 )
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7
Q

Define primary medical cause of death

A

Disease/injury which INITIATED process/sequence of physiological events/complications which lead to death eg DM , stab to chest. Also called underlying COD

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8
Q

Define mechanism of death

A

The pathophysiological derangement which sets in as a result of the primary medical cause of death which is ultimately responsible for death

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9
Q

Define natural death

A

Death primarily attributed to an illness or internal malfunction, NOT influenced directly by external forces

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10
Q

Define immediate /terminal COD

A

A term used to describe the final disease that led to death. Usually the complication which occurs eg head injury (primary medical cause) pt develops bronchopneumonia

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11
Q

Name 5 manners of death

A
  1. Natural
  2. Accident
  3. Suicide
  4. Homicide
  5. Undetermined
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12
Q

What is livor mortis?

A

Also called hypostasis, lividity. Gravitational pooling of blood within vessels. Posture related. Pink/blue discolouration. Absent on areas exposed to pressure. Becomes fixed (clots) about 12 h after death.

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13
Q

What is rigor Mortis?

A

PM stiffening of muscles due to chem changes in myoplasm. Temperature dependant test following cessation of oxygen. ATP ceases, lactic acid increases causing actin and myosin to irreversibly bind.

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14
Q

Timeline of rigor mortis? (4)

A

Begin 3-4h after death . Between 1-4 h in face, 3-6h in limbs.
Fully established 8-12h
Unchanged for 36h
Disappear 2-3 days

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15
Q

What is algor mortis?

A

Body cools as metabolic activity ceases PM until it reaches that of the environment. 8-12 hours skin

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16
Q

What is putrefaction?

A

Consequence of death caused by uncontrolled growth of innate (gut commensals) and pathogenic micro-organisms

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17
Q

Define throttling

A

Strangling, usually by hand

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18
Q

What is histotoxic asphyxia?

A

Diminished capability to utilize oxygen ey cyanide poisoning

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19
Q

What is anemic hypoxia?

A

Decreased oxygen carrying capacity eg excessive haemorrhage

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20
Q

What is stagnant hypoxia?

A

Collapse/reduction blood circulation eg cardiac failure

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21
Q

What is hypoxic hypoxia?

A

Diminished oxygen intake eg high altitude

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22
Q

Define suffocation and causes (5)

A

Type of mechanical hypoxia- cut off air supply by vitiated atmosphere or blockage of external airway: smothering, gagging, arm lock.
Lack of oxygen in inspired air and blockage of external or files

23
Q

Define trauma

A

Injury to the body caused by physical or chemical factors, resulting in wounds and possible complications

24
Q

Define wound

A

Disruption of anatomical continuity of tissue caused by application of force, when tensile of strength of tissues are exceeded

25
Q

Define abrasion

A

Most superficial of injuries. Does not pentrate full thickness of epidermis therefore pure abrasion does not bleed as BVs are confined to dermis. However, due to corrugated nature of dermal papillae, bleeding commonly occurs.

26
Q

Name 4 types of special abrasions

A
  1. Scratches or linear abrasions
  2. Impression/imprint /patterned abrasions -
    2 types: pressure (force perpendic to skin, skin crushed eg hanging, bite ) and
    impact or stamp(with rough obj eg tire tread, rope )
  3. Brush, sliding, friction or graze abrasions
27
Q

Define contusion

A

Bruise lying beneath an intact epidermis and consists of an extravascular collection of blood that has leaked from blood vessels damaged by mechanical impact.

28
Q

Name 7 types of special contusions

A
  1. “Spontaneous” bruises (ITP)
  2. Impression bruises
  3. Raccoon eye (periorbital haematoma/echymoses)
  4. Tramline bruises (cylindrical firm object eg baton)
    5.. Six-penny bruises (NAI-shake baby with 2 hands. Fingers leave bruises), butterfly bruises
  5. Bruises caused in self defence
    7 iatrogenic
    Intra-dermal, miscellaneous
29
Q

Define laceration

A

Type of blunt injury in which the full thickness of skin is penetrated. Ragged and bruised edges with crossing of tissue strands

30
Q

Define incised wounds

A

Sharp force injury with Clear division of skin and underlying tissues so that the margins are almost free from any damage. They are generally longer than they are deep and bleed a lot more than lacerations
Direction of sharp force usually parallel.

31
Q

Define contributing cause (or condition) of death

A

Contributes to an earlier death eg atherosclerosis in strangled person

32
Q

Define predisposing cause (or condition) of death

A

Predisposing or underlying conditions which may cause accident eg excitement causing arrhythmia

33
Q

Define precipitating cause (or condition) of death

A

Causes the immediate development of particular illness eg excitement causing cerebral haemorrhage

34
Q

Define exclusive cause of death

A

No contributing or other factors play a role eg stab wound to heart

35
Q

What is the Frye standard/test?

A

General acceptance test to determine the admissibility of scientific evidence. Expert opinion based on scientific technique is only admissible where the technique is generally accepted as reliable in the relevant scientific community

36
Q

What is the Daubert standard?

A

Provides a rule of evidence regarding the admissibility of expert witnesses’ testimony

37
Q

Define stillbirth

A

A child that had at least 26 weeks of intra-uterine life or 28 weeks gestation since LMP, but showed no signs life after birth

38
Q

The disease that started the causal sequence leading to death is termed?

A

Underlying or primary cause of death

39
Q

Any final disease/condition directly leading to death and consequent to initiating/underlying diseases is termed?

A

Immediate/terminal/final/ direct cause of death

40
Q

Any cause between the originating antedecent/underlying cause and the immediate cause of death is termed?

A

Intermediate/intervening cause of death/ complication.

41
Q

Any cause of death that is neither the immediate, intervening, originating atedecedent nor underlying, but leads to earlier death is termed?

A

Contributory cause of death

42
Q

The pathophysiological disturbance which ultimately results in death of person and which follows on or arises secondary to the primary cause of death is termed?

A

Mechanism of death

43
Q

The circumstances surrounding the death are termed?

A

Manner of death

44
Q

What is throttling?

A

Manual strangulation

45
Q

What is garotting?

A

Ligature strangulation

46
Q

What is flaying?

A

Skinning

47
Q

Define mycology

A

Assessment of fungi

48
Q

Which term describes the study of insects?

A

Entymology

49
Q

Define infant death

A

Occur within first year of life. Includes first 28 days (neonatal period)

50
Q

Define chop wound

A

Combination of sharp force and blunt force injury by object that is both heavy and sharp, eg axe.
Incised appearance on skin surface with associated abrasions, contusions, and significant underlying blunt trauma and often fractures

51
Q

What is a decollement injury?

A

Type of laceration. Subcutaneous skin is lacerated but no open injury of skin is present. A cavity forms in deep subcutaneous tissue, filled with blood and fluid
Run-over injury.

52
Q

Which principle states that a perpetrator will bring something into crime scene and leave with something from it?

A

Locard’s exchange principle

53
Q

Study of algae and microscopic unicellular plants called?

A

Diatomology

54
Q

Study of pollen and spores called?

A

Palynology

Forensics (9 decks)

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