pathology and entomology Flashcards
What is pathology?
pathology: medical speciality originally designed to study structural and morphological changes to body as a result of a disease state
what is forensic pathology?
forensic pathology: medical speciality designed to determine the cause and manner of death in cases of suspicious or unexplained death
what is an autopsy?
autopsy: post-mortem examination performed on a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death
what is a cause of death? can you give an example?
-pathologist first determines the primary or immediate cause of death, followed by secondary or contributing causes of death
-mechanisms of death are the actual physical, physiological, or chemical event that bring on cessation of life
-trauma or disease or a combination of both are causes of death
what is a manner of death? what are the 5 manners of death? can you give an example?
manner of death: the determination of how the injury or disease leads to death
1. homicide
-refers to the act of killing another person
-often the most investigated death, therefore making it the most autopsied
2. natural
-death of someone by occurring disease process or is not apparent given medical history or circumstances
-majority of natural death caused by old age
-other causes of natural death: heart disease, stroke, genetic disorders, etc.
3. accidental
-often caused by mistake or in a freak occurrence
-these deaths are not planned, yet can be explained by surrounding circumstances
4. suicide
-the act of ending one’s own life
-these autopsies often easily identify source, cause, and other factors of the death
-suicide is often identifies in the forensic autopsy as a cause of toxic, firearms, blunt force trauma, etc.
5. unknown (undetermined)
-may include deaths in absentia, such as deaths as sea and missing persons declared dead in a court of law
when must an autopsy be performed?
-sudden, unexpected death
-violent death
-unattended or suspicious
what is the autopsy process? what does it consist of?
autopsy process: the examination of the body to determine cause and manner of death
-a search of the body for physical evidence is done that can yield clues to the identity of the deceased, if unknown
1. external examination
-detailed examination of entire body, all wounds and trauma are noted
-body is photographed, clothed, and unclothes
-physical evidence collected off body
-samples of hair, nails, etc. are collected
-examine for wounds unclothed
-note scars, tattoos, or other unusual body markings including lacerations, abrasions, bruises
2. internal examination
-incisions to torso are made and internal examinations done-Y-shaped cut from behinds each ear running down the neck, meeting at the breastbone, continuing towards the groin
-body fluid samples taken, major organs removes and weighed, assessment of wounds done
-external objects that may have caused death are removed
-X-rays may be taken
what are the classifications of violent deaths? can you give an example of each?
- mechanical
-gunshot, stabbing, fall - thermal
-burns, extreme cold - electrical
-electrical burns, electrocution - chemical
-drugs, alcohol
sharp force injuries vs. blunt force injuries
sharp force injuries= injuries that result from contact with knives or other sharp instruments
-causes an incised wound (with relatively sharp edges)
blunt force injuries= injuries that results from contact with objects
-cause a laceration (has rough edges)
are firearm injuries an example of sharp or blunt force injuries?
blunt force injury
what are characteristics of contact, intermediate, and distant gunshot wounds?
- contact
-gun pressed next to body and discharged; entry wound shows blackening and swelling from release of hot gases and often causes lacerations (stellate wound) - intermediate
-unburned and partially burned propellant lodged in skin, called stippling - distant
-shots reflect no stippling
hyperthermia vs. hypothermia
hyperthermia: extreme heat
hypothermia: extreme cold
damage from moderate voltages vs. high voltages
moderate voltage damage: causes heart to quiver uncontrollably which is known as ventricular fibrillation (1,000 volts or less)
high voltage damage: can cause extreme burns and damage to cellular material in body-heart stops breathing
how does carbon monoxide cause death?
-carbon monoxide causes death through chemical causes like asphyxiation (lack of oxygen)
what is post-mortem interval? what is used by forensic pathologists to estimate post-mortem interval?
post-mortem interval: estimated time since death
-temperature and physical environment are noted from crime scene investigation
-amount of clothing or covering noted
-core body temp is taken to determine preliminary estimate of algor mortis (tendency of body to cool after death)
