Forensics Unit 7: Autopsy

After death, finger nails and hair can continue to grow for a little while longer. Select one: True False

False - False! The skin might be pulled back -- giving an illusion of growth. But, a cell without energy can NOT produce hair or nails!

If the body is moved 14 hours after death, the lividity pattern will change according to the new body position. Select one: True False

False - The lividity pattern is fixed by 12 hours.

Which mortis deals with loss of heat? Algor Livor Rigor

Algor - Algor (heat) - Livor (discoloration - settling of blood due to gravity) - Rigor (stiffness)

A body is found on its back, and the medical examiner determines it has been moved. How was this determined? Based on Livor Mortis Based on Rigor Mortis Based on rate of decomposition Based on Algor Mortis

Based on Livor Mortis

How many hours will it take until the settling of blood patter (livor mortis) becomes permanent? 12 hours 18 hours 24 hours 10 hours 8 hours

12 hours

A body is found face down at 3 pm. The environmental temperature is 72oF. The axilla temperature is 91.6oF. There is rigor in the small muscles of the face and the start of rigor in the larger muscles. There is some discoloration on the body's back and buttock region and stomach. What is the TOD and PMI based SOLEY on algor mortis 1) 98.6oF-91.6oF = 7 Since you lose 0.78oF per hour. 7/.78= 8.95 hours (PMI) TOD = 4 am 2) 98.6oF-91.6oF = 7 Since you lose 1.4oF per hour. 7/1.4 = 5 hours (PMI) TOD = 10 am

2) 98.6oF-91.6oF = 7 Since you lose 1.4oF per hour. 7/1.4 = 5 hours (PMI) TOD = 10 am

What is the initial cut called in an autopsy? Posterior Cut Thoracoabdominal Anterior cut

Thoracoabdominal OR Y-cut

What is the study of poisons called? Toxicology Pathology Poisonology

Toxicology

Which mucle (or muscle size) will exhibit rigor mortis first? Select one: a. Small muscles of the jaw b. Biceps (arm) c. Gastrocnemius (a calf muscle) d. Hamstring (back of thigh)

a. Small muscles of the jaw - The small muscles (jaw, fingers and toes) will show rigor first.

A body is found with a gun shot wound to the abdomen. There is a very large pool of blood on the ground and the medical examiner notes (on examination) that the aorta (the main artery leading away from the heart, carrying oxygenated blood) is ruptured. What is the cause of death? Select one: a. gun shot wound b. homicide c. severe blood loss

a. gun shot wound - Cause of death: This has the LARGEST number of reasons (compared with mechnisms -- what is happening in the body that causes death or manner of death -- categories including accidental and homocide). Cause of death include: knife injury, overdose, etc.

Which of the following are manners of death? Choose ALL that apply. Select one or more: a. homicide b. asphyxiation c. loss of blood d. accidental e. gun shot wound f. suicide

a. homicide d. accidental f. suicide *Note: - Manner of death are the categories: Natural, Suicidal, Homicidal, Accidental, Therapeutic, Unknown. - CAUSE of death: Unlimited causes: Gun shot wound, knife, slip & fall, etc. - Mechanism: What is stopping in the body to cause death: Heart Stopped, Lung stopped, Brain stopped, loss of blood (stopping of circulation).

If the body is moved 18 hours after death, it can be evaluated by: Select one: a. livor mortis b. algor mortis c. rigor mortis d. livor and rigor mortis

a. livor mortis - Livor mortis (discoloration) pattern will be stable after 12 hours. So, if the body is moved the pattern of the new position of the body will not agree with the primary livor pattern.

What is the Y shaped incision called that is done during autotopsy. Select one: a. Upsilon incision b. Thoracoabdominal incision c. Autopsy Cut d. Cadaver prep

b. Thoracoabdominal incision

Which statement about the rate of decomposition is generally TRUE? Select one: a. The body of an overweight person will decompose slower than the body of a person who was not overweight. b. Decomposition will occur faster if the body is submerged in water than if it is on land. c. A buried body decomposes more slowly than a body that is not buried. d. Ambient temperature [temperature of the immediate surrounding area] does not affect the rate of decomposition.

c. A buried body decomposes more slowly than a body that is not buried. * - The body of an overweight person will decompose more quickly than a person of average weight (more "food" for the bacteria") - Decomposition will occur slower if the body is submerged in water than if it is on land. - A buried body decomposes more slowly than a body that is not buried. (When it is on the surface more bacteria can reach it). - Ambient temperature [temperature of the immediate surrounding area] will affect the rate of decomposition (colder will slow the decomposition, hotter will speed it up.)

What causes decomposition of the body? - break down of the cell wall - increased bacteria activity and the ceasing of cell metabolism - dehydration

increased bacteria activity and the ceasing of cell metabolism

How much heat is lost (per hour) in Celsius for the first 12 hours? 1.0ºC 0.78ºC 0.36ºC 1.4ºC

0.78ºC (1.4ºF) - After 12 hours, the rate is going to half. - (.39ºC) or (.7ºF)

What is the difference between a Coroner and a Medical Examiner? - Medical examiners are elected, coroners are appointed. - Coroners are elected, and medical examiners are appointed.

Coroners are elected, and medical examiners are appointed.

What is the difference between a Coroner and a Medical Examiner? Medical examiners are elected, coroners are appointed. Coroners are elected, and medical examiners are appointed.

Coroners are elected, and medical examiners are appointed.

How is body temperature measured in a corpse?

In the liver, rectal, and axilla (arm pit)

How is body temperature measured in a corpse?

In the liver, rectal, or axilla (arm pit)

When is Rigor Mortis first visible? When does it end? Starts 2-4; Ends 36 hours. Starts 1-2; Ends 48 hours. Starts immediately; Ends 36 hours. Starts 1-2; Ends24 hours.

Starts 2-4; Ends 36 hours.

What the categories for manner of death? Choose ALL that apply! Genocide Therapeutic Homicide Algicide Unknown Natural Accidental Suicide

Therapeutic (*) Homicide Unknown Natural Accidental Suicide

Based on the loss of temperature, calculate the PMI for the following case.1st twelve hours = .780C/hourA body is found. The body temperature was 300C. The normal body temperature is 370C.Assume that the environmental temperature and other conditions are NOT factors). What is PMI (post mortem interval)? Select one: a. Approximately 4 hours b. Approximately 7 hours c. Approximately 9 hours d. Approximately 0.7 hours

c. Approximately 9 hours - The temperature loss was 7 degrees. - 0.78 degrees C per hour. - (7 / .78 = 8.97 ~ 9)

Which technique used in Autopsy does not damage (or change) the body? Select one: a. Y incision b. Removal of the organs. c. CT scan d. Histology

c. CT scan Histology is the study of tissues. The tissues must be removed from the body, slided thin (with a microtome), stained and then examined. - CT scan is a set of 3-dimensional x-rays.

Determine the order of the events below:Heart Stops, Cell membranes rupture, Circulation stops, Fluid escapes from the cells. Select one: a. Circulation stops, heart stops, fluid escapes, cell membranes rupture b. Circulation stops, heart stops, cell membranes rupture, fluid escapes. c. Heart stops, circulation stops, cell membranes rupture, fluid escapes.

c. Heart stops, circulation stops, cell membranes rupture, fluid escapes.

Which type of change shows a discoloration of the skin (dark red to purple) after death? Select one: a. Rigor mortis b. Algor mortis c. Livor mortis

c. Livor mortis

When does rigor mortis start? When does it end? Select one: a. Starts immediately after death, ends completely at 36 hours. b. Starts 4-6 hours after death; end completely in 12 hours. c. Starts approximately 2 hours after death; ends completely at 36 hours. d. Starts approximately 1 hour after death and lasts 24 hours

c. Starts approximately 2 hours after death; ends completely at 36 hours.

Which type of change occuring of death is categorized by muscle locking Select one: a. algor mortis b. livor mortis c. rigor mortis d. none of the above

c. rigor mortis

A body is found with a gun shot wound to the abdomen. There is a very large pool of blood on the ground and the medical examiner notes (on examination) that the aorta (the main artery leading away from the heart, carrying oxygenated blood) is ruptured. What is the mechanism of death? Select one: a. gun shot wound b. homicide c. severe blood loss

c. severe blood loss - Mechanism of death: What is happening IN the body that causes the death.

Which of the following circumstances surrounding a death would be least likely to be investigted by the medical examiner or coroner? Select one: a. A death in a two-card auto crash. b. A boy killed while deer hunting. c. A death in a hospital during major surgery. d. A heart attack suffered by an elderly woman while at home.

d. A heart attack suffered by an elderly woman while at home. - An autopsy will be performed when the manner is not "natural" and is unexpected. It is also performed when their might be legal action (homicide, malpractice).

Which condition will cause Rigor Mortis to appear the quickest? Select one: a. Obese individual b. Elderly individual c. Average adult d. Adult after exercise

d. Adult after exercise - After exercise, cells have a decrease in ATP -- if death occurs now, there is immediately less ATP to break the bonds in the sarcomeres.

When are photographs taken of the body? Select one: a. Before clothes are removed b. Before washing the body c. After clothes are removed d. All of the choices are correct

d. All of the choices are correct

Based on the loss of temperature, calculate the PMI for the following case.1st twelve hours = .780C/hourA body is found. The body temperature was 220C. The normal body temperature is 370C.Assume that the environmental temperature and other conditions are NOT factors). What is PMI (post mortem interval)? Select one: a. Approximately 9 hours b. Approximately 12 hours c. Approximately 15 hours d. Approximately 26 hours

d. Approximately 26 hours - The temerperature loss was 15 degrees. 0.78 degrees C per hour for 12 hours = 9.36 degrees C loss in 12 hours.37-9.36 = 27.64 degrees C - temperature of the body after 12 hours.27.64 - 22 degrees = 5.64 degrees Celsius.Recall that, after 12 hours, it loses at HALF the rate (0.78 divided by 2 = 0.39).

What causes decomposition of the cells in the body? Select one: a. ceasing of cell metabolism, only b. increase bacterial activity, only c. increase in ATP production by the cells of the body, only d. Ceasing of cell metabolism AND increase in bacterial activity

d. Ceasing of cell metabolism AND increase in bacterial activity

Which is not a cause of death? Select one: a. asphyxiation b. heart failure c. drowning d. accidental

d. accidental *Make sure you know the difference between cause and manner of death: - Cause of death is "infinite" : Electric shock, asphyxia, malnutrition, drug overdose. It is the Why? - Manner of death -- circumstances around the death. Was it from natural causes? homicide? suicide? Accidental? Unknown? Therapeutic complications?

Body is found prone (face down) in the woods. There is a gun shot wound with the entrance at the back of the head. There are apparent drag marks (from the body) starting at a clearance in the woods to where the body was found -- under a mound of leaves under a tree.The temperature outside is 40 degrees F.The core body temperature is 40 degrees F.There is no rigor.There is livor notes on the anterior surface (front of the body).The person has been dead for: Select one: a. 4 hours or less b. 4 to 8 hours c. 24 to 30 hours d. greater than 36 hours.

d. greater than 36 hours. - The body has cooled completely down to environmental temperature. -- Recall that a body loses 1.4F/hour for 12 hours (16.8 for the 1st 12 hours) and0.7F after that. -- Recall that all rigor ends 72 hours -- so PMI must be greater than 72 hours.