l7 Taphonomy, Anthropology, Entomology

Question 1

forensic pathologists

Answer 1

Investigative personnel, typically
medical examiners or coroners,
who investigate the cause, manner, and time of death of a victim
in a crime; can also be a physician
who has been trained to conduct
autopsies

Question 2

autopsy

Answer 2

A surgical procedure performed by
a pathologist on a dead body to
ascertain—from the body, organs,
and bodily fluids—the cause of
death.

Question 3

cause of death

Answer 3

Identifies the injury or disease that
led to the chain of events resulting
in death

Question 4

petechiae

Answer 4

Pinpoint hemorrhaging often
observed in the white area of the
victim’s eyes; often observed in
strangulation cases.

Question 5

manner of death

Answer 5

A determination made by a
forensic pathologist of the cause
of death. Five broad categories
are homicide, suicide, accidental,
natural, and undetermined.

Question 6

algor mortis

Answer 6

A process that occurs after death in
which the body temperature continually cools until it reaches the
ambient or room temperature.

Question 7

livor mortis

Answer 7

A medical condition that occurs
after death and results in the settling of blood in areas of the body
closest to the ground.

Question 8

rigor mortis

Answer 8

A medical condition that occurs after death and results in the stiffening of muscle mass. The rigidity of the body begins within 24 hours of death and disappears within 36 hours of death.

Question 9

forensic anthropology

Answer 9

The use of anthropological knowledge of humans and skeletal
structure to examine and identify
human skeletal remains.

Question 10

forensic entomology

Answer 10

The study of insect matter, growth patterns, and succession of arrival at a crime scene to determine the time since death

Question 11

postmortem interval (PMI)

Answer 11

length of time that has elapsed since a person has died

Question 12

what are some responsibilities of board-certified forensic entomologist?

Answer 12

promote education, research, and the
practice of medico-legal entomology in forensic science

Question 13

what is a blowfly’s life cycle?

Answer 13

egg, larvae, pupae, adult

Question 14

in what environment do female blowflies lay their eggs?

Answer 14

moist environments, they feed on fluid

Question 15

what are maggot’s role in decomposition?

Answer 15

feed on flesh

Question 16

what are primary colonizers? examples?

Answer 16

first insects to arrive at a body, blowflies

Question 17

what is a characteristic of beetles?

Answer 17

eat eggs and larve from flies

Question 18

how can stages of decomposition be identified?

Answer 18

physical characteristics, insect population, and volatile organic compounds

Question 19

what factors highly affect decomposition?

Answer 19

temperature and humidity

Question 20

what are the 5 stages of decomposition?

Answer 20

fresh, bloated, active decay, advanced decay, dry

Question 21

explain the “fresh” stage of decomposition

Answer 21

immediately after death till body is bloated –chemical breakdown occurs
-few morphological changes
-no odour to humans

Question 22

explain the “bloated” stage of decomposition

Answer 22

-accumulation of gasses from the activity of anaerobic bacteria produce a swollen, bloated appearance
-obvious odour present at this time.

Question 23

explain the “active decay” stage of decomposition

Answer 23

-deflation of the carcass due to the gases escaping from body often due to the insect activity
-strong putrid odour
-when the strongest odours are detected

Question 24

explain the “advanced decay” stage of decomposition

Answer 24

-large amount of the flesh has been removed
-but still some moist tissue present
-odour noticeable but less putrid than active decay

Question 25

explain the "dry" stage of decomposition

Answer 25

-carcass reduced to bones, cartilage, some exudate, and dry skin -slight odour is present. -insects at this stage using skeleton as shelter

Question 26

what is post mortem interval (PMI) in entomology?

Answer 26

entire period after death, pre and post coloniation

Question 27

what is Minimum post mortem interval (minPMI)? why is it called minimum pmi?

Answer 27

shorted possible time from death to when first flies lay eggs and, therefore colonize the body -“minimal” as there could be a delay –pre-colonization period

Question 28

how is pre-colonization period useful?

Answer 28

important to know to determine possible delays in the arrival of insects on a body

Question 29

what is time of colonization(TOC)? what does it include?

Answer 29

indicates time of colonization, includes myiasis

Question 30

what is myiasis?

Answer 30

parasitic infestation on a live host

Question 31

explain the method of insect development to determine minPMI

Answer 31

-Require oldest immature insects on or around the body -goal is to determine when the female flies first laid eggs on the body (primary colonisers) -Temperature is essential -method is no longer valid once the first colonisers have reached the adult stage

Question 32

what is essential info to know when trying to age insects?

Answer 32

species

Question 33

why is temperature important in entomology?

Answer 33

insects are cold-blooded and will develop faster at warmer temps

Question 34

explain the successional ecology method for determining minPMI

Answer 34

-Body goes through rapid biological, chemical, and physical changes -Attractive to a predictable sequence of insects -Require the assemblage of all insects, not just one species -Varies with habitat, season, geographic area

Question 35

what are 6 applications of forensic entomology?

Answer 35

-Post mortem interval -Neglect -Entomotoxicology -Extracting human DNA -Disposal of body -Movement of the body after death

Question 36

explain how entomology can be used to identify neglect?

Answer 36

certain species attracted to live hosts -vunerable persons, unsanitary conditions -greenbottle flys feed on decomposing tissue -houseflies attracted to feces

Question 37

explain Entomotoxicology?

Answer 37

insects can ingest drugs found in human system, insect tissue can be tested for presence of drugs

Question 38

explain how entomology can be used to extract human DNA?

Answer 38

extract stomach from larvae in attempt to recover DNA

Question 39

how can entomology be useful to gain info about the disposal of a body?

Answer 39

location affects decomp and insect colonization (ex if body is in a cold freezer it changes how insects colonize)

Question 40

how can entomology be useful to gain info about the movement of a body?

Answer 40

native insects can determine if a body was moved, if the body has insects different than those native to the location it is found, we know the body has been moved

Question 41

explain two instances where insects can cause damage to evidence on a body

Answer 41

-Larvae may move clothing to appear like a sexual assault took place -Feed on tissue around a wound, destroying evidence

Question 42

what is the primary focus of a forensic entomologist? what is the most important piece of info to a FE?

Answer 42

-determine minPMI -temperature

Question 43

postmortem redistribution

Answer 43

redistribution of drugs in the blood after death

Question 44

autolysis

Answer 44

self-digestion by the cell's own enzymes

Question 45

adipocere

Answer 45

formation of a waxy substance during decomposition

Question 46

putrefaction

Answer 46

decomposition carried out by microorganisms

Question 47

slippage

Answer 47

skin begins to blister and peel

Question 48

vitreous humor

Answer 48

fluid within the eye

Question 49

forensic anthropologists may help to create a ______ to help with victim ID

Answer 49

facial reconstruction

Question 50

t/f Bones are static, dead structures within the body

Answer 50

false, dynamic living tissue that undergo constant change

Question 51

what part of a decedent's body resists rapid decomposition and is used by forensic anthropologists to provide info of the deceased

Answer 51

bone

Question 52

t/f decomposition typically occurs on the face before the abdomen

Answer 52

false, usually begins in the abdomen

Question 53

three things that must be taken into account when using entomological evidence to estimate PMI

Answer 53

-geographical location of body -weather conditions -location's climate over time

Question 54

the stage of fusion of various bones within a skeleton can be used to estimate the ____ of the decedent

Answer 54

age

Question 55

t/f forensic entomology can provide valuable insight into the manner of death of an individual

Answer 55

true

Question 56

as a forensic entomologist, why is it important to keep some insect specimens alive after collection

Answer 56

enables accurate measurement of larvae

Question 57

insect evidence should be collected..?

Answer 57

at the scene by a forensic entomologist or trained investigator

Question 58

Putrefaction and autolysis are two types of ____ processes

Answer 58

rigor mortis

Question 59

Forensic taphonomy

Answer 59

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

Question 60

what are taphonomic factors and why are they important?

Answer 60

factors that affect decomposition and preservation of a body, factors interact with others and as a result the effects on decomposition can vary enormously

Question 61

examples of taphonomic factors?

Answer 61

depth of burial- deeper bodies more protected wrapped bodies- more protected soil type- acidic soil can break down bones plant and animal activity- lots of factors affect the amount of this temp- MOST IMPORTANT, higher temps mean more bacteria and biological activity so faster decomp

Question 62

briefly explain the parts of a bone

Answer 62

compact bone- outer layer, smooth white appearance spongy bone- under compact bone, allows room for blood vessels and marrow medullary cavity- innermost layer, stores bone marrow epiphyses- ends surrounding long bones

Question 63

what are the 5 classes of bones, provide an example for each

Answer 63

long bones- arms and legs short bones- fingers, toes flat bones- skull, pelvis, ribcage irregular bones- spine, mouth sesamoid bones- joints (knees, hands, wrist, feet)

Question 64

how many bones do humans have as newborns? as adults?

Answer 64

405-->206

Question 65

Ossification centers

Answer 65

areas in the body where bone formation begins, bones fuse together as we grow

Question 66

what are 6 pieces of information we can gather from bones?

Answer 66

sex, age, ancestry, stature, trauma, disease

Question 67

explain key differences between pelvis bones that can help determine sex

Answer 67

females will have: -wider subpubic angle -wider sciatic notch -broad pelvic inlet

Question 68

explain key differences between cranium bones that can help determine sex

Answer 68

males will have: -more pronounced features -more square chin -wide and robust jaw -sloped forehead

Question 69

explain how bones can be used to estimate age

Answer 69

-teeth -bone density (less dense as we age) -fusion of bone (different fusion stages based on age) -bone disease and trauma (would be documented in medical records)

Question 70

explain how bones can be used to estimate stature?

Answer 70

long bone length is roughly proportional to height, measurement is a range

Question 71

how can bones be individualized?

Answer 71

combining a range of traits such as age, stature, sex, and trauma can help to narrow down the possibilities to attempt to ID deceased persons

Question 72

what are the three types of bone trauma? explain each

Answer 72

antemortem trauma- healed trauma prior to death perimortem trauma- occurred at/ around time of death postmortem trauma- after death

Question 73

how can skeletal remains be dated?

Answer 73

lab tests

Question 74

what are some responsibilities of forensic anthropologists?

Answer 74

-consultants -expert in Office of the Chief Coroner -academics -testify in court -participate on international forensic teams (mass fatalities, war crimes)