Death: meaning, manner, mechanism, cause and time



Chapter 12 Death: Manner, Mechanism, CauseStudent Learning ObjectivesForensic Science: Fundamentals and Investigations, 2nd ed., Bertino & Bertino, 2015At the conclusion of this chapter, the student should be able to:Death_____1. What are some different definitions of death?_____ 2. Discuss why it is challenging to determine the precise moment of death._____ 3. Distinguish between cellular death and death of the organism._____ 4. Distinguish among cause, manner, and mechanism of death._____5. Describe the four manners of death, natural, accidental, suicidal, and homicidal, as well as the fifth classification, unknown._____6. Explain the significance of determining the manner of someone’s death._____ 7. Distinguish between the roles of medical examiners and coroners.Decomposition _____ 8. Discuss the immediate effects of death. Include in your answer:a. heartb. circulationc. oxygen and glucose levels of the bloodd. body temperature_____9. Describe the chemical and physical processes that occur in cells as circulation to them ceases in the early stages of death, preceding autolysis. In your answer, discussa. circulationb. oxygen levelsc. aerobic respirationd. anaerobic respiratione. cellular wastes and lactic acidf. release of cellular enzymesg. cell membranesh. enzymes____ 10. Discuss the process of autolysis:a. What is autolysis? b. Why is it appropriate to refer to autolysis as “cell demolition”?c. What causes cells to undergo autolysis?_____11. Describe the chemical and physical effects of the marbling of the skin that occurs during decomposition. Include in your answer:a. the breakdown of capillaries and body cellsb. protein and hemoglobinc. sulfurous waste productsd. seepage between cells_____12. Account for the reason(s) that it is difficult to determine skin color and ethnic backgrounds on decomposed bodies. ____ 13. Describe the chemical and physical effects that explain the skin slippage that occurs during decomposition. Include in your answer:a. bacteriab. waste gases_____14. Relate the process of putrefaction to the decomposition of tissues. Include in your answer:a. bacteriab. body tissuesc. foul-smelling gasesd. waste products_____15. Describe the distinguishing characteristics of the following stages of decomposition:a. initial b. bloatingc. active decayd. advanced decaye. dry decay_____ 16. Recognize the stage of decomposition based upon:a. absence or presence of odorsb. amount of decayc. accumulation of decomposition gases and bloatingd. marbling of the skine. color of the fleshf. seepage of body fluidsg. dryness of the fleshh. mostly skeletal remains______17. Describe the effect of the environment on the rate of decomposition:a. body clothed or nakedb. temperaturec. windd. body exposed to the air, buried or submerged in watere. illness at time of deathf. body weightg. body size______18. Discuss the postmortem interval "rule of thumb" and account for the changes In body temperature and the rigid or flaccid (relaxed) muscle conditions. a. warm body and limp (less than 3 hours)b. warm body and stiff (3-8 hours)c. cold body and stiff (8-36 hours)d. cold body and limp (over 36 hours)Postmortem Interval______19. Distinguish between time of death and postmortem interval (PMI).______20. Explain the forensic significance of estimating the postmortem interval. ______21. List four different techniques that help estimate the postmortem interval (PMI).Livor Mortis______22. Describe what happens to the body as livor mortis develops. Include in your answer:a. blood and blood vesselsb. circulationc. decompositiond. gravity______23. Explain when lividity first appears and when after death it becomes permanent.______24. Explain how it is possible to determine someone’s body position at the time of death.______25. Explain the forensic implications of finding a body exhibiting dual lividity.______26. List the drawbacks of estimating postmortem interval using lividity only.Rigor Mortis______27. Define rigor mortis.______28. Describe the progression of rigor mortis from when it first sets in to when fades.______29. Compare and contrast the shape of muscles during rigor mortis versus when they are relaxed.______30. Describe the biochemical causes of rigor mortis.______31. Explain the role of each of the following in regards to rigor mortis:a. oxygenb. circulationc. aerobic respirationd. anaerobic respiratione. acetic acidf. energy production______32. Explain what causes the loss of rigor.______33. Describe the effect of each of the following variables to the onset of rigor mortis:a. body temperatureb. ambient temperaturec. amount of body fat on the victimd. amount of clothing on the victime. illnessf. amount of exercise prior to death______34. List the drawbacks of estimating postmortem interval using rigor mortis evidence only.Algor Mortis______35. Define algor mortis.______36. State the formula used to estimate the loss of body temperature afterthe first 12 hours after deathafter 24 hours after death______37. Explain how body temperature is taken from a corpse.______38. Describe the effect of each of the variables on loss of body temperature:a. ambient temperatureb. presence or absence of clothingc. exercise prior to deathd. amount of air circulation______39. List the drawbacks of estimating postmortem interval based on the loss of body temperature only.Forensic Entomology______40. Describe how to estimate postmortem interval based on insect evidence found on the body and at the crime scene.(Refer to Chapter 11 Forensic Entomology for more Student Learning Objectives on this topic.)Other Evidence Used to Estimate Postmortem Interval______41. Explain why the gastric contents are emptied and examined during an autopsy.______42. Explain why knowing the degree of digestion of the gastric contents of a deceased person is useful in estimating postmortem interval.______43. Describe changes in the cornea following death. Include in your answer when these changes depending on whether the eye is closed or open at the time of death.______44. Discuss the reliability of measuring potassium levels in the vitreous humor of the eye for estimating postmortem interval.Autopsy______45. Explain the purpose of an autopsy.______46. Who performs autopsies?______47. When are autopsies required?______48. Discuss the basic procedural steps of an autopsy.______49. Describe the forensic information gained by the following procedures performed at an autopsy:Organ and blood vessel examination:a. emptying of stomach contentsb. macroscopic and microscopic examination of the liverc. examination of bullet woundsd. examination of knife woundse. examination of the blood vessels and heartf. examination for bruising g. examination of the hyoid bone in the neckh. examination of genitals for tears, cuts, body fluidsi. X-ray of bodyj. examination of the braink. removal of fluid from the bladderl. removal of fluid from the inside of the eyeExternal examination:m. evidence of algor mortisn. evidence of rigor mortiso. evidence of body fluids: blood, saliva, semen, vaginal fluid p. removal of any insects found on the bodyq. scraping and removal of anything under the fingernailsr. examination of the eyess. examination of body for any cuts, wounds, or bruisest. examination for evidence of broken bonesu. examination of skin: color, rashes, bitesv. examination of genitalsGeneral Information______50. Given insect evidence; data pertaining to rigor, algor, and livor mortis; and data from the autopsy, be able to estimate PMI. ______51. Explain how postmortem interval is an estimate that should be based on multiple factors not just one type of evidence. ................
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