Unit 1: role of pathologist, stages of decay, forensic anthropology

Question 1

Early changes of death(minutes/hrs):
-cessation of _____________/_________
-skin _______
-muscle relaxation
-eye changes (cornea, retina)
-blood coagulation & __________

Answer 1

-respiration, circulation
-pallor
-fluidity

Question 2

Determination of Death
Definition of ________ can be problematic, no longer just ‘permanent cessation of cardiac &/or respiratory function’
- concept of ________ & determination of when to pronounce death can be controversial (harvesting organs, moving brain dead individ., etc)

Necessary interdependent organ systems for life-
___________, ____________, ________

Types of death:
__________, _________ & ________ or brain death

Answer 2

-death
-brain death
-respiratory, circulatory, CNS
-cellular, clinical, & legal

Question 3

Late Changes of Death:
______, ______, & _____ mortis.

-___________: ‘_________ of the body’, internal body temp acclimates to ambient temp.

Answer 3

-algor, livor, and rigor
-algor mortis
-cooling

Question 4

-___________: ‘skin___________’: blood pools in vessels due to gravity, causing discoloration of skin on ‘dependent’ parts of the body.
-observable ~20-120 min PM as reddish-purple blotches
-spreads & deepens in color w/ time… ‘fixed’ at ~10-12 hrs PM
-_______ decay & diffuse into surrounding tissues
-helps indicate initial position of body PM…. ‘pressure pallor’

Answer 4

-livor mortis
-discoloration
-RBCs

Question 5

___________: ‘__________ of muscles & joints’
-___________ of muscle fibers (contraction) leads to rigidity
-onset begins ~2-6 hrs PM w/ muscles of eyelids, neck, jaw
-spreads to all muscles within hours
-rigidity persists ~_______ hrs (temp dependent)
-muscle contraction is produced by shortening of __________
-contractile unit consisting of _____ (thin) & ______ (thick) filaments that ‘slide across’ each other

Answer 5

-rigor mortis
-stiffening
-shortening
-24-84
-sarcomeres
-actin
-myosin

Question 6

Rigor Mortis continued:
-______ stored in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of muscle cells leak into cytoplasm
-Bind to _____________ complex, causing ‘active site’ on actin to be exposed
-in the presence of ATP, myosin ‘heads’ bind to actin, causing filaments to ‘slide across’ each other (=contraction)

Answer 6

-calcium ions (Ca2+)
-troponin-tropomyisin

Question 7

Rigor Mortis cont
-Requires _____ to break bond & relax muscle fiber
-remain attached w/ no more ATP synthesis … =rigor
-Rigor reverses itself over time as filaments ______
-thin filaments (actin) ‘detach’ from ends of each sarcomere, allowing contractile unit to lengthen again
-onset & duration determined by ambient temp & metabolic activity @ time of death
-cold temps accelerates onset & prolongs rigor
-warm, hot temps delay it, or potentially never develops
-rigor may accelerate if fever or vigorous activity @ death
1. increase _________ in muscle cells
2. decrease _______
3. ______ released into sarcoplasm

Answer 7

-ATP
-degrade
-lactic acid
-glucose
-Ca2+

Question 8

Postmortem tissue changes:
-decomposition
-_________ & __________
-mummification
-skeletonization
-_________ formation

Answer 8

-autolysis, putrefaction
-adipocere

Question 9

Decomposition:
-cells begin dying ~_____ min PM due to lack of O2
-corpse/carcass appears normally, yet cellular death & microbial activities are occuring internally
-_____________: ‘self digestion’, process by which digestive enzymes w/in cells break down carbs & proteins
-tissue decay initiated by cells w high __________ enzymes
- as _____ increases, pH decreases, & membranes become ‘leaky’
-_______________: major component of decomposition due to bacterial (&fungal, protozoan) activity
-initiated by anaerobic fermentation by intestinal bacteria; releases volatile fatty acids (butyric acid, etc) as by-product
-gas formation & bloating
-greenish discoloration of abdomen
-breakdown of pooled blood produces sulphaemoglobin (green)
-marbling (dark coloring) along blood vessels
-blistering & skin slippage
-loss of hair & nails

Answer 9

-3-7
-autolysis
-lysosomal
-CO2

Question 10

Postmorten tissue changes:
________________: drying of body &/or parts, producing leather-like changes
-may occur in environments of high ambient temp and low humidity, hangings, elevated corpses, etc.
________________: physical changes & removal of soft tissue
-enteric and soil bacteria, fungi, scavengers, insects and plants
-once reduced to hard tissues decomp slows
-bone, cartilage, mummified tissue remain
-vertebrate scavengers, weather & bacteria (consume collagen protein in bone matrix)

Answer 10

-mummification
-skeletonization

Question 11

___________: ‘grave wax’ formed due to hydrogenation of body fats; requires anaerobic bacteria and moist environment
-can inhibit further decomp, causing body to remain virtually unchanged for years.

Answer 11

-adipocere

Question 12

___________: elected lay persons who rely upon medical personnel available to assist in investigations & perform autopsies

Answer 12

coroners

Question 13

__________: appointed physicians & pathologists typically w special training in medicolegal death investigations & forensic autopsy performance

Answer 13

medical examiner

Question 14

Medical Examiner performs the following:
-complete external ___________
-x rays
-sampling & toxicological analysis of __________
-blood, urine, bile, vitreous
In violent homicides, deaths of children, etc. -
-ME may visit crime scene
-perform autopsies
-photograph injuries
-submit report

Answer 14

-examination
-body fluids

Question 15

_________________: any injury or disease that is responsible for initiating series of events that result in death

Answer 15

cause of death

Question 16

________________: physiological derangement produced by the cause of death that results in death

Answer 16

mechanism of death

Question 17

_______________: an opinion based on known facts concerning circumstances leading up to & surrounding death, in conjugation w findings @ autopsy & lab tests

Answer 17

manner of death

Question 18

Types of death:
-__________: death resulting from natural causes
-__________: unexpected death resulting from a lawful act performed under a reasonable belief that no harm is possible
-__________: deliberate termination of one’s existence
-___________: killing of one human being by the act or omission of another (doesn’t equal ‘murder’)
-______________: when investigation, autopsy, & other tests fail to identify a commonly accepted cause or manner of death
-____________: when circumstances of death fail to fit into the definition of any other manner of death

Answer 18

-natural
-accidental
-suicide
-homicide
-undetermined
-unclassified

Question 19

____________________: a branch of medicine that applies the principles & knowledge of the medical sciences to problems in the field of law.
-a subspecialty of pathology involved in the investigation of deaths that are sudden, unexpected, unexplained, or violent

Answer 19

forensic pathology

Question 20

5 specific goals of a forensic autopsy~
-Identify victim (____)
-determine cause of death (____)
-time of death (____)
-correlation of body & its environment (____)
-manner of death (____)
-also, collection of evidence for investigative team

Answer 20

-who
-what
-when
-where
-how

Question 21

External Exam:
-Photograph
-retrieval of evidence
-description & removal of clothing &/or medical devices
-cleansing & rephotographing
-general description of body (race, hgt, wgt, sex, birthmarks, scars, etc)
-injuries &/or abnormalities

Question 22

Internal Exam:
-‘Y’-shaped thoracoabdominal & intermastoid incisions
-toxicological samples & organs removed
-evidence recovery (bullets, drugs, etc)
-photographs and diagrams drawn

Question 23

Forensic Examination
Additional studies:
-histology (microscopic tissue exam)
-toxicology
-fixation of heart & brain in formaldehyde
-review medical records, etc.
-assign cause & manner of death, prepare autopsy report

Question 24

5 specific goals forensic autopsy ~
Time of death (when)
-cant pinpoint time of death but may establish an interval
-cant determine at crime scene, complex process
-general investigation & scene investigation important: last seen alive, food, mail, etc.

Question 25

5 specific goals Time of death: PM changes indicating time of death: -rigor, livor, & algor mortis & decomp. __________: PM stiffening of muscles & joints -timeline for onset & relaxation subject to variables -graded as : ________ (limp), ________(some stiffness), _________(stiffer but breakable), ____ (complete stiffening) _____________: discoloration on 'dependent' area -color varies, but normally reddish-purple -discoloration does not disappear, & timeline subject to variables -graded as: absent, faint, full, fixed/unfixed _______________: 1/5-2 degrees/hr PM -use lab thermometer or electronic meter for core temp (rectum, liver) -timeline subject to variables: ambient temp, humidity, air currents; location (air, water, ground); body mass, clothing, time elapsed

Answer 25

-rigor mortis -absent minimal moderate full lividity (livor mortis) body cooling (algor mortis)

Question 26

Postmortem changes indicating time of death (when) : -_______________: observable changes on external surface -~24 hrs, green discoloration of lower abdomen (caecum) -~48 hrs, entire abdomen w green discoloration -~72 hrs, torso green

Answer 26

decomposition

Question 27

5 specific goals cont Correlation of body & its environment (where) -may/may not be possible Identification (who) : -visual, fingerprints, dental, medical, circumstantial, anthropological, DNA

Question 28

5 specific goals cont Cause of death (what) -___________ process that initiates chain of events sufficient to result in death -___________: heart attack, lung cancer -___________ causes of death: gunshot/stab wounds, asphyxia by hanging, blunt force trauma

Answer 28

-injury or disease -natural causes -medicolegal

Question 29

5 specific goals Manner of death (how) -Medical classification of a death according to circumstances surrounding death -__________= 'reasonable medical certainty'

Answer 29

-standard of certainty

Question 30

Time of Death indicators Forensic pathologist; -rigor mortis, livor mortis, algor mortis, decomp, changes in vitreous humor, & gastric emptying Forensic entomologist: -development rates & succession patterns of necrophilous insects Forensic anthropologist: taphonomic processes (observable changes in tissues) Other info: -last seen alive, scene markers (mail, newspapers, etc.)

Question 31

Taphonomy~ Study of the transition of animal remains PM Stages of decay are not discrete, described from 2-8 stages, but 5 most comon 5 stages of decay: _______, _______, _______, ________, & __________

Answer 31

fresh, bloat, active decay, advanced decay, putrid/dry remains

Question 32

5 Stages of decay -______ (autolysis) -_______ (putrefaction) -active decay -advanced decay (^^ both decay is putrefaction & carnivore/scavenging activities) -___________ remains (diagenesis) Recycling of tissues to simplest building blocks (organic molecules of carbs, proteins, lipids, nucleic acids)

Answer 32

-fresh -bloat -putrid/dry

Question 33

Rate of decay varies according to: -___________ & relative humidity -corpse/carcass ___________: intact, dismembered, burned, etc. -corpse/carcass ___________ -presence of clothing, ______________, etc. -____________ of corpse/carcass: terrestrial, aquatic, buried, hung, indoors, shade vs sunlit areas, etc. -________________ to insects, vertebrate scavengers, bacteria fungi

Answer 33

-temperature -condition -size & biomass -physical barriers -placement -availability

Question 34

"fresh" stage of decay -cell begin dying ~______ min PM due to lack of O2 (brain 1st, epithelium can survive up to 24 hrs PM) -corpse appears normal ______________, yet cellular death & microbial activities are occurring internally. -decay initiated by _____________ -CO2 inc, pH dec, cellular biproducts accumulate. -autolysis externally observable ~few days PM: skin blistering, slippage -rate of tissue degradation in liver (breakdown of DNA) used as a PM indicator -Algor, livor and rigor mortis most common methods of PMI during FRESH decay

Answer 34

-3-7min -externally -autolysis

Question 35

FRESH stage of decay continued -___________= body temp acclimates to ambient temp -____________= blood pools in vessels due to gravity, discoloration (reddish-purple coloring); observed ~20-120 min PM as blotches, then spreads and deepens, fixed @ 10-12 hrs PM -_____________= stiffening of muscles/joints due to binding of actin & myosin filaments & cytoplasm 'gelling' with decreased pH (begins ~3-4 hrs PM, peaks ~12 hrs & reverses over next ~36-48 hrs as individual cells decay & myosin heads detach from actin filaments. ; prolonged due to low ambient temps

Answer 35

-algor mortis -livor mortis -rigor mortis

Question 36

BLOAT stage of decay - marked by ____________, decay of soft tissues by bacteria, fungi, protozoa -_________________ in intestines remain active, breaking down cells (catabolism) -release by-products including gases, liquids, & simple molecules -accumulated gases cause abdomen to expand, tongue to protrude, fluids to ooze out of mouth, nostrils, rectum -_______ of decay now detected -bloat stage short, though slight distension can be seen during cooler temps of winter -_________ of gases & fluids marks beginning of "active decay" stage

Answer 36

--putrefaction -anaerobic bacteria -odor -purging

Question 37

Active Decay, 3rd stage of decay -abdomen no longer distended (or only slightly) -greenish discoloration becomes yellow-brown-blackish w time -breakdown of skeletal muscle releases amino acids, bacteria then use to make more fatty acids -aerobic & anaerobic bacteria flourish, ____________ dominate w fly larvae consuming majority of soft tissue -'____________' refers to darkening of skin due to continued tissue breakdown -typically appears first in head region as colonization of fly larvae accelerates decay -escaping gases produce very strong _______, NH3, most noticeable

Answer 37

-insect activity -black putrefaction -odor

Question 38

Advanced Decay, 4th stage of decay -marked by mass _________ of fly larvae away from corpse to pupate -remains now resemble a __________ corpse/carcass remaining portions of internal organs, bone, tendons, ligaments & limited amount of muscle, skin -_________ present but ranges from crumbly (__________) to soft, paste-like (_________) --- waxy, fatty substance formed by glycerol & fatty acids, produces cheesy odor associated w the remains -mold, fungi& other microbes become apparent on drying surfaces -________ still very important; species change as 'food' & 'habitat' resources vary

Answer 38

- migration -collapsed -adipocere -rapid decay -slower decay -insect activity

Question 39

Putrid/Dry remains, 5th stage of decay -dry or nearly dried remains: -bone, tendons, ligaments, hair (hide), nails (hooves, horns) -sinew= shreds of dried tissues attached to bone, hides -_____________ tend to have a layer of adipocere present on soil, ground surface, bones, clothing etc. -_____________ typically include sun bleached bone & mummified tissues (if remain) resting on 'dried soils' devoid of adipocere -remains have now become '________'

Answer 39

-putrid remains -dry remains -skeletonized

Question 40

Decay rates in LA (for small-normal sized adult) -During ___________ months in LA --fresh: day 1 ---bloat: days 2-3 ----active decay: days 4-7 ------advanced decay: days 8-10 ----------putrid/dry remains: days 11+

Answer 40

warmer(March-OCtober ) -high heat index of July-SEpt accelerates decay; cold fronts decrease rate.

Question 41

Aquatic Environments and Decay -remains decay _______ slower than terrestrial habitats due to cooler temps, low O2, & inhibition of insect _______ 6 stages of decomp in _________ ecosystems: -_____________= carcass sinks to bottom of pond, etc. -_________= carcass floats to surface as gases accumulate in abdomen; flies lay eggs on exposed flesh -_____________= 'active decay' w fly larvae feeding on exposed flesh -________________= carcass still floating though fly larvae have consumed exposed skeletal muscle; limps begin to disarticulate, body fluids leak from orifices. -____________= disarticulated limbs, skin, internal organs, fatty tissues,etc. "float' as a mass; exposed remains now have little/no insects associated w it -____________= bones, bits of skin, etc. sink to bottom of pond.

Answer 41

-~2x -activity -freshwater -submerged fresh -early floating -floating decay -bloated deterioration -floating remains -sunken remains

Question 42

Decay in ___________ ecosystems: - crustaceans, fish, gastropods, & echinoderms main decomposers of carrion -recovery of human remains rare & limited research on forensic taphonomy in marine env.

Answer 42

-marine

Question 43

Burned bodies - a ________ burn extremely difficult to achieve -typically flies will still oviposit on the non-burned tissues (bloating of carcass exposes 'fresh tissues') -Confined/wrapped, buried, hung, dismembered, chemicals (embalmed), etc. all will alter decay table 1.4, text pg 21 case by case, exposure to sunlight

Answer 43

-complete

Question 44

Forensic Anthropology- -application of knowledge of human biology to criminal and civil investigations (of legal matters) -obtain info from _________ to answer the following: -_________ of the deceased -establish _______ of death -establish __________ of death -FA consultants contribute to investigations by: - determining if remains are human - recovery of remains - estimating potential PMI & ID of deceased; providing info on cause and manner of death

Answer 44

-skeleton -identification -cause -manner

Question 45

Questions to ask about remains- - is it _________? -typically easy to determine if trained in comparative anatomy -how ____ is it? -knowledge of growth & development, maturation & degenerative changes of bones - is it of interest to ____________? Most common methods for estimating PMI: -associative evidence, witness statements, rigor, algor, livor mortis; stomach contents; entomological info; anthropological info

Answer 45

-human -old -law enforcement

Question 46

Positive _________ determined typically by: -CST (investigators), forensic pathologist, odontologist, or anthropologist

Answer 46

-identification

Question 47

Identification To produce an ID, forensic anthropologists provide: -______ & _______ determination -estimations of age, height, weight, physique, handedness, childbirth -____________________: previous illness, trauma, bone structure, etc. -facial reconstruction FA provide a biological profile that can: 1. _________ or __________ individual as suspected victim 2. narrow scope of search of missing persons

Answer 47

-sex and race -ID of unique features -confirm or exclude

Question 48

Sex Determination - Determining sex of ___________ is difficult w any degree of accuracy -more skeletal material, more accurate -use both visual and metric techniques -anthropometric measuring devices: Sliding and hinge _________) -never use a characteristic in ___________ -bones most commonly used: -pelvis, skull and long bones pelvis and skull most useful for adult bones

Answer 48

- infant/child -calipers

Question 49

Age Determination Techniques for estimation vary~ -_________ & ____________ of skeleton - fetal skeleton -subadult= infant/child -__________________ of bones, joints - adult

Answer 49

-growth & development -degeneration

Question 50

Subadults Aging Dental ________: -can accurately determine age of infants & children by comparing presence/absence of deciduous (baby) & permanent teeth Cranial ________ closure: -immovable joints (sutures) between skull bones fuse @ diff times in infancy, early childhood -w age, sutures 'fade' or are ossified (filled in w bone)

Answer 50

-eruption -suture

Question 51

Subadults Aging cont. -timing of fusion of _________ & ________ in early childhood - @ birth, 'forehead' & 'jaw' are separate left & right bones -long bone growth: -long bones of arms & legs grow throughout childhood/adolescence @ the _________________ (growth zone) -region of transition from hyaline cartilage to bone -growth occurs @ both ends of the bone (epiphysis) -2 regions: shaft (diaphysis) & end (epiphysis) -when growth ceases (adult height), epiphyseal plate disappears & shaft & bones ends ossify -x-rays will show an ____________ after 2 regions of bone have ossified

Answer 51

-frontal bone -mandible -epiphyseal plate -epiphyseal line

Question 52

Age Estimation Adults -Typically observe ___________ changes: -pubic symphysis -fusion of sutures -microstructure changes & 'smoothness' of certain bones -surface of the _________ symphysis changes w time~ -young adults: symphyseal face has a rounded appearance -surface flattens (remodels) w age, by 50+ years it exhibits arthritic changes (erosion & possibly osteophytic growth) -___________ changes of humerus & femur throughout life (75+ yrs) have been well documented -ulna, radius (forearm), & tibia, fibula (lower leg) less accurate -____________ of costal cartilage of ribs -__________ of teeth ( molar wear)

Answer 52

-degenerative -pubic -structural -mineralization -condition

Question 53

Determining Race ~ -3 main classifications of race: -_______________ -_______________ -________________ -Facial bones of __________ best for identifying race: -eye orbits -shape of nasal cavity, nasal bones, & nasal spine -prognathanism of lower face -chin shape -variations in shape of teeth (shovelling) & dental margin -simple or complex sutures; shape of sutures -max width of face vs cranium

Answer 53

-american caucasoid -southwestern mongoloid -american black -cranium

Question 54

Body Profile Estimating height, weight, & physique~ -__________: use long bones of limbs (femur then tibia) -__________: cannot estimate using skeleton, must rely on clothing & height of individual -__________: muscular bodies tend to have thicker bones -inc bone density supports inc tension exerted onto skeleton -compare size & prominence of areas of muscle attachment to height & weight of individual

Answer 54

-height -weight -physique

Question 55

Additional Info FA's provide: Identification of unique features ~ -_________________ help narrow &/or provide specific identity (healed fractures, surgical pins, post-surgical evidence, abnormalities in bone, etc) -______________: based on craniofacial morphology, along w age, sex, & race determinations -create 3d facial reconstruction based on known tissue thickness @ specific landmarks of face -photograph to make a 2d image to publicize/circulate info -__________: ligament attachment @ dorsal surface of pubic symphysis & sacroiliac joints may rupture& hemorrhage during childbirth (results in pits on bone surface)

Answer 55

-dental & medical records -facial reconstruction -childbirth

Question 56

Additional info FA's provide -____________- may be able to suggest if indiv. was left/right handed (side-specific bone changes, shoulder joint of dominant arm, diff arthritic changes in wrist/fingers, little practicality in estab identity directly -___________- rough indication can be suggested by amt of soft tissue remaining on skeleton, PMI's est by FA's are typically assoc w how long it would take to skeletonize &/or skeletal changes long after it became dry bone PMI can be EXTREMELY vague (years, decades, etc)

Answer 56

-handedness -time of death

Question 57

Additional info & recovery of remains Indications of cause/manner of death ~ -primary responsibility of ____________, not FA -__________: entrance & exit wounds, path of bullet(s) -____________ injuries -_____________ trauma -fractures: antemortem vs postmortem Forensic anthropologists cooperate w investigative teams during ____________~ -___________: airplane crashes, bombing, etc. -__________ of badly decomposed or skeletonized remains (complete skeleton or surface scatter of body parts) -locating & recovering _______ remains -______ death scene investigation & recovery

Answer 57

-medical examiner -gunshot wounds -stabbing/cutting -blunt force -recovery of human remains -mass disasters -surface recovery -buried -fire