22 Questions
What is the primary purpose of studying insects in death investigation?
To estimate the time of death
What is the term for the stiffness of the body after death?
Rigor Mortis
What is the term for the cooling of the body after death?
Algor Mortis
What is the term for the time elapsed since death?
Post-mortem Interval
What is the process of breaking down of the body after death?
Decomposition
What is the primary factor that affects the rate of decomposition?
Temperature
What is the primary purpose of forensic entomology in estimating the post-mortem interval?
To recreate the post-mortem time period
What is the term for the stiffening of muscles after death?
Rigor Mortis
What is the process of breaking down of organic matter after death?
Decomposition
What is the term for the cooling of the body after death?
Algor Mortis
Why are insects valuable evidence in estimating the time of death?
Because they can be used to recreate the post-mortem time period
What is the term for the study of insects in relation to estimating the time of death?
Forensic Entomology
What is the purpose of analyzing the stomach and intestinal contents in estimating the time of death?
To estimate the time of death based on digestion
What is the essential question being addressed in this unit of study?
How can insects serve as valuable evidence to help estimate a time of death?
What is the primary purpose of an autopsy in a death investigation?
To identify the cause and manner of death
What is the term for the period between death and the discovery of the body?
Post-mortem interval
What is the term for the stiffness of the body after death?
Rigor mortis
What type of evidence can be used to estimate the post-mortem interval?
Entomological evidence
What is the term for the cooling of the body after death?
Algor mortis
What is the term for the breakdown of the body after death?
Decomposition
What is the purpose of collecting specimens during an autopsy?
To collect evidence for toxicology analysis
What is the term for the process of examining a body after death?
Autopsy
Study Notes
Time of Death
- Stomach and intestinal contents can be used to estimate time of death
- Stages of decomposition can also be used to estimate time of death
Forensic Entomology
- Insects can be used to recreate the post-mortem time period
- Insects can serve as valuable evidence to help estimate time of death
- Life cycle of insects can be used to estimate time of death
Pathology and Death Investigation
- Autopsies provide information in a death investigation
- Manner of death can be classified as homicide, accidental, or undetermined
- Cause of death can be determined through autopsy
- Mechanism of death can be determined through autopsy
- Examples of manner, cause, and mechanism of death include:
- Jon Benet Ramsey: homicide, strangulation, asphyxiation
- Whitney Houston: accidental, drowning, combination of heart disease and drug use
- Death by gunshot: homicide, gunshot, massive blood loss
- Death by drug overdose: undetermined, drug overdose, heart failure
Steps in an Autopsy
- Specimens collected for toxicology lab analysis include:
- Blood from aorta
- Urine from bladder
- Vitreous humor from eyeball
- Histology samples (tissue embedded in wax)
- DNA
- Elapsed time can be estimated based on body temperature and stiffness
Unit 8 Wrap-Up
- Review notes and ask for help if necessary
- Use highlighters or different colors to chunk and group sections of notes
- Write quiz questions in the margin for confusing topics
- Summarize and reflect on essential questions, connecting to prior thinking or other classes.
This lesson covers the pathology of death investigation, including manner, cause, mechanism, and time of death. Students are advised to take notes during the lesson.
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