Forensics Terminology Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is algor mortis?

The cooling of the body after death.

What is autolysis?

The spontaneous breakdown of cells as they self-digest.

What is the cause of death?

The immediate reason for a person's death.

What is death?

The cessation, or end, of life. Signup and view all the answers

What is decomposition?

The process of rotting and breaking down. Signup and view all the answers

What is forensic entomology?

The study of insects as they pertain to legal issues. Signup and view all the answers

What is an instar?

One of the three larval stages of insect development. Signup and view all the answers

What is a larva?

Immature form of an animal that undergoes metamorphosis. Signup and view all the answers

What is livor mortis?

The pooling of blood in tissues after death. Signup and view all the answers

What is the manner of death?

One of four means by which someone dies. Signup and view all the answers

What is the mechanism of death?

The specific body failure that leads to death. Signup and view all the answers

What is a pupa?

The stage in the insect's life cycle when the larva forms a capsule around itself. Signup and view all the answers

What is rigor mortis?

The stiffening of the skeletal muscles after death. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during livor mortis?

Red blood cells break down and turn a bluish-purple color. Signup and view all the answers

When does blood start to pool in the body?

2 hours after death. Signup and view all the answers

When does discoloration from livor mortis become permanent?

After 8 hours. Signup and view all the answers

How can lividity help crime investigators?

It can determine the original position of the body. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the cycle of rigor mortis.

Rigor begins 2-6 hours after death, reaches peak at 12 hours, and ends around 36 hours. Signup and view all the answers

Name factors that affect rigor mortis.

Ambient temperature, weight of the body, clothing, illness, level of physical activity, and sun exposure. Signup and view all the answers

How do you find the temperature of the corpse?

You stick a thermometer into the liver. Signup and view all the answers

How much body heat is lost every hour after death?

1-1.5 degrees. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the digestive system.

Food is broken down in the mouth, travels through the esophagus to the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. Signup and view all the answers

What are accessory organs?

Liver, gall bladder, and pancreas. Signup and view all the answers

What is the job of the liver?

Make bile. Signup and view all the answers

What is the job of the gall bladder?

Stores bile. Signup and view all the answers

What is the job of the pancreas?

Releases insulin which regulates glucose in the blood. Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take for the stomach to empty into the small intestine?

4-6 hours. Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take for a body to fully digest a meal and release it from the body?

24 hours. Signup and view all the answers

If undigested food is present in the stomach at the time of death, how long has the body been dead?

0-2 hours. Signup and view all the answers

If the stomach is empty but food is found in the small intestine, then how long has the body been dead?

4-6 hours. Signup and view all the answers

If the small intestine is empty and water is found in the large intestine, then how long has the body been dead?

12 or more hours. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Forensic Terminology

Algor mortis: Refers to the cooling of the body post-mortem.
Autolysis: The process of self-digestion where cells break down spontaneously.
Cause of death: The immediate medical reason for a death, such as heart attack or kidney failure.
Death: Defined as the cessation of biological functions that sustain life.
Decomposition: The breakdown of organic matter leading to its rotting.
Forensic entomology: The study of insects to resolve legal questions, especially in forensic cases.

Insect Development Stages

Instar: One of the three stages in insect larval development.
Larva: The immature stage following egg hatching; examples include maggots.
Pupa: The transformation stage where the larva encases itself and eventually becomes an adult.

Post-Mortem Processes

Livor mortis: Blood pools in lower body regions post mortem, leading to a bluish tint on the skin.
Manner of death: Categorized as natural, accidental, suicidal, or homicidal.
Mechanism of death: Describes the specific physiological failure resulting in death.
Rigor mortis: The stiffening of muscles after death, occurring in a specific cycle.
Timeline for livor mortis: Blood pooling begins 2 hours after death and becomes permanent after 8 hours.

Rigor Mortis Cycle

Begins 2 to 6 hours post-mortem; starts in the head and progresses downward.
Peaks at around 12 hours when the entire body is rigid.
Gradual relaxation occurs from approximately 15 to 36 hours after death, with stiffness dissipating.

Factors Influencing Rigor Mortis

Ambient temperature, body weight, clothing, pre-existing health issues, activity level at death, and sunlight exposure.

Determining Body Temperature

To assess a corpse's temperature, a thermometer is inserted into the liver, indicating body heat loss of 1-1.5 degrees Fahrenheit per hour after death.

Digestive System Overview

Food digestion begins in the mouth with amylase, proceeds to the esophagus, stomach (where pepsin acts on proteins), small intestine (nutrient absorption), large intestine (water absorption), and concludes at the rectum.

Accessory Organs

Liver: Produces bile necessary for digestion.
Gall bladder: Stores bile for later use.
Pancreas: Regulates blood glucose levels by releasing insulin.

Digestion Timelines

Stomach empties into the small intestine in 4 to 6 hours.
Complete digestion and waste release takes approximately 24 hours.
Presence of undigested food in the stomach at death indicates a time frame of 0 to 2 hours.
An empty stomach with food in the small intestine signifies a death time of 4 to 6 hours.
An empty small intestine with water found in the large intestine suggests over 12 hours since death.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key forensic terms and concepts related to post-mortem processes and insect development stages. This quiz covers definitions like algor mortis, autolysis, and forensic entomology, among others. Perfect for students of forensic science!