Forensic context lectures 5&6

Question 1

What is medico- legal remains

Answer 1

those of which cause and manner of death are determined and death certificate is generated, remains less 50 years old

Question 2

Cause of death

Answer 2

disease of injury that initiates a sequence of events that result in death

Question 3

What is manner of death?

Answer 3

the manner in which the cause of death comes into being
(homicide, suicide, accident, natural)

Question 4

What differences does bipedalism make in a human skeleton?

Answer 4

pelvis is shorter and wider
vertebrae thicker and flatter, double curve
foramen magnum is anterior on the skull

Question 5

Circular osteons
randomly places
various sizes

Answer 5

Histological human

Question 6

osteons and other structures

can be banded
plexiform, brick-like lay

Answer 6

Histological non-human

Question 7

What are 5 factors used to help assess if the remains are contemporary

Answer 7

1. state of preservation
2. body mod (intentional and unintentional)
3. color
4. personal belongings/ material
5. conditions of interment

Question 8

Types of non medico-legal remains

Answer 8

1. anatomical (for teaching)
2. trophy, ancestor skulls
3. looted historic and prehistoric grave (still a crime)

Question 9

How can you tell this is a skull fragment

Answer 9

two layers of compact bone separated by spongy diplo

Question 10

How do you identify a clandestine grave

Answer 10

disturbed vegetation
soil compaction
secondary depression
disturbed soil

Question 11

How can you tell the soil has been disturbed

Answer 11

crushed plants
grave pit depression

Question 12

Loss of color within 15 minutes of death

Answer 12

pallor mortis

Question 13

What is the postmortem interval?

Answer 13

This is the amount of time that has passed since the decedent’s death and
their discovery by law enforcement.

Question 14

Tache noire de la sclerotique

Answer 14

dark band forms on the sclera of the eyes due to drying

Question 15

When blood begins to settle

Answer 15

livor mortis

Question 16

the muscle begins to stiffen

Answer 16

rigor mortis

Question 17

Decomposition caused by bacteria

Answer 17

putrefaction

Question 18

As the cells die, they release their enzymes that begin the process of decomposition as the body begins to digest itself

Answer 18

autolysis

Question 19

__________ is the most important variable that affects the rate at which the body deteriorates. Higher ___________ result in quicker decomposition because autolysis, putrefaction, and insect activity are all accelerated at higher ______________. For this reason, researchers no longer think that time is the dominant variable affecting decomposition rates.

Answer 19

temperature

Question 20

No discoloration except for lividity and incipient marbling of the veins; no insect activity except for possible blowfly eggs near orifices

Answer 20

fresh

Question 21

skin slippage; hair nail loss; pink discoloration of skin; darker discoloration of face and fingers; flies and maggots present near eyes, nose, and mouth. marbling of veins is darker w/ decomposition fluid oozing from orifices

Answer 21

Early decomp
a) Pre-bloating

Question 22

abdomen bloated and discolored green; beetles present

Answer 22

Early decomp
b) bloating

Question 23

body ruptures; discolored brown to black

Answer 23

early decomp
c) post - bloating

Question 24

abdomen collapsed with skin sagging due to extensive maggot activity; remains are still moist; beetles are still active on corpse

Answer 24

advanced decomposition

Question 25

skeleton largely exposed with some remaining flesh and ligaments beetles dwindling; bones are greasy and yellow due to remaining fat eventually drying white

Answer 25

skeletonization

Question 26

bones are sun bleached; cracks forming along long bones; cortical bone peeling away. later stages the long bone ends are destroyed

Answer 26

skeletal decomposition

Question 27

the body temperature drops toward the ambient air temperature

Answer 27

algor mortis

Question 28

What is the primary role of a forensic anthropologist in a death investigation?

Answer 28

To estimate the postmortem interval in cases of skeletonization.

Question 29

what is considered the most significant in affecting the rate of decomposition

Answer 29

temp of the environment

Question 30

How does the presence of insects influence the decomposition process?

Answer 30

Insects accelerate decomposition by consuming soft tissues and generating heat.

Question 31

What role do forensic entomologists play in death investigations?

Answer 31

They use insect biology to aid in estimating the postmortem interval.

Question 32

How does the concept of accumulated-degree-days (ADD) relate to decomposition?

Answer 32

ADD is used to estimate the time it takes for a body to skeletonize based on temperature.

Question 33

which is simply the sum of the average daily temperatures that a corpse experiences A general rule, the time it takes to reduce a body to a skeleton = 1285/average daily temperature. This means that if the average daily temperature is 40oC (104oF) the body will skeletonize in approximately 32 days (1285/40=32).

Answer 33

accumulated-degree-days (ADD)

Question 34

the study of what happens to the body and how the environment impacts on these processes between the death and discovery of human remains.

Answer 34

Forensic taphonomy

Question 35

the study of insects and other arthropods found at crime scenes to help solve cases.

Answer 35

forensic entomology

Question 36

tend to be more open and flared in females, reflecting the wider pelvic girdle. The female pelvis is wide and shallow, while the male pelvis is narrow and tall.

Answer 36

blades of the ilia

Question 37

tends to be more oval in females and more heart-shaped in males.

Answer 37

pelvic outlet

Question 38

is more triangular in females and more oval in males

Answer 38

obturator foramen

Question 39

"sex-based two forms"; that is the tendency for males and females of a species to vary in size, with males being larger than females in primates and most mammals

Answer 39

Sexual Dimorphism