FSC100 Final Exam Prep Questions with Complete
Answers.
Methods of identification after death - Correct answer 1. Visual
2. Photographic
3. Clothing and personal effects
4. Fingerprinting
5. Dental records
6. DNA
Early Development of Autopsy in Forensic Investigations - Correct answer 1507:
Bamberg Code describes the first written records of forensic pathology, included
provisions related to the investigation of crimes and highlighted the importance of
medical evidence in death cases
1530: Constitution Criminalist Carolina (AKA Carolina)
- A more extensive and comprehensive penal code
- Aimed to standardize laws in the Holy Roman Empire
- Issued by Emperor Charles V.
- requiring a medical testimony be an integral part of the proof and trials involving
decisions regarding whether the death was a homicide, etc.
- Didn't specify performing a total autopsy but wounds were opened to determine depth
& direction
- First indication of "Some degree of expertise" - people needed to be specialized in
pathology
16th Century: Ambrose Pare performed medico legal autopsies
- Examined the lungs of smothered children to understand physiological effects of
different death
- Also studied the traces left by sexual assault
When do Forensic Pathologists Get Involved? - Correct answer 1. When the coroner is
unable to answer any of the 5 questions
2. When there is a possibility of involvement in the criminal justice system
Why do pathologists perform an autopsy? - Correct answer Two Main Reasons:
1. Discovery (cause & manner of death)
2. Documentation (details on injuries, diseases, etc.)
What is a forensic pathologist? - Correct answer - A medical doctor
- Specialist certifications in anatomical pathology and additional training in forensic
pathology
- Requires at least 14 years of university & postgrad training
- Most forensic pathologists also hold master's degrees or PhDs
,- Has the knowledge of the effects of disease & injury on the body in the context of the
law
The Pathologist Register - Correct answer 1. Category A (forensic pathologists)
- Can perform autopsies on all types of medico legal cases
- This includes homicides and criminally suspicious adult and pediatric cases
2. Category B (anatomical pathologists)
- Performs autopsies on non-homicide/non-criminally suspicious adult cases
3. Category C (pediatric pathologists)
- Performs autopsies on non-homicide/non-criminally suspicious pediatric cases
Cause of Death - Correct answer the actual trauma, event, disease or illness that
triggers the physiological process resulting in death (ex: asphyxia)
Can be immediate or underlying:
--> Immediate: the disease, injury, or complication directly preceding death and which is
the ultimate consequence of the underlying cause
--> Underlying: the disease or injury initiating the chain of events that ultimately lead to
the cessation of life
Mechanism of Death - Correct answer - The physiological or functional derangement
resulting in failure of one or more vital organs
- Usually doesn't require mention in death certificates
- Ex: cardiac arrhythmia, respiratory arrest, sepsis, multisystem organ failure
Manner of death - Correct answer the means by which death occurred
Five manners: accident, suicide, homicide, natural, undetermined
Pending Cause of Death - Correct answer - The cause of death can be named as
"pending" by the pathologist if it is still unknown after the autopsy and there is a
possibility that further information may permit his/her determination of the cause of
death
- Indicates additional studies or investigations are needed, like toxicology in drug related
deaths
The Medico-Legal Autopsy - Correct answer - a medical investigation on behalf of
greater society to determine how and why its citizens die
- Performed under legislation of the Coroner's Act, NOT family consent.
True or False: When a coroner takes jurisdiction of a body, the family has no rights to
the remains until the body is released back to them - Correct answer True
Goals of the medico-legal autopsy: - Correct answer - Determine the cause of death
,- Determine the mechanism of death
- Estimate the time of death and/or timing of injuries
- Determine the nature and mechanism of injuries
- Give opinions as to the nature of instruments/weapons that might've been involved in
creating the observed injuries
- Trace evidence collection, etc.
5 Parts of the Medico legal Autopsy - Correct answer 1. Assessment of the scene &
circumstances surrounding the death
2. External examination of the body
3. Internal examination of the body
4. Interpretation of additional studies in the context of the case (testing like toxicology if
needed)
5. Synthesis of a medico legal opinion (pathologist uses all gathered info to create a
comprehensive opinion including the cause and manner of death)
The Mortems - Correct answer Ante mortem: before death
--> Not of significant assistance w/ manner or cause of death
Useful for identification purposes: presorted medical/dental records, characteristics of
healed injuries and bone
Per mortem: around time of death
--> Can be associated with the manner and cause of death
--> Consider two factors:
1. Nature of the lesion (type of injury: fracture, amputation, and puncture)
2. Cause of lesion (event causing the wound: knife, axe, stress injury)
Postmortem: after death
--> Intentional (dismemberment) or unintentional (animal scavenging)
Bullet Wound - Correct answer - A small projectile propelled at high velocity
- Pattern depends on tissue, bone and ballistic properties of the projectile
- Entrance hole usually circular
- Beveled internally, sharply edged
- Exit whole more ragged and beveled externally
- A higher velocity projectile causes greater and more rapid fracturing than low velocity
- Bullet fragmentation is common
Sharp force injury - Correct answer - Knives, picks, axes, hatchets
- Leaves identifiable marks on tissue, muscle and bone
- Sharp-pointed instruments = deeper and smoother holes
- Flat-bladed objects = longer V-shaped notches
- Sharp edges of knives can cut and splinter bone creating clean or curled edges like
whited wood
- Dull edges dent or gouge tissue and bone leaving uneven edges
, - The direction of injury and instrument used can be determined by microscopic
examination (SEM) and can assist with sequence of events, identify instrument used,
and sometimes the intent of the perpetrator
Blunt force injury - Correct answer - Blow to head from a blunt object can produce a
depressed fracture
- Site usually caved in
- The wider the object + more force = wider and more caving of depression
- Depends on the site of the blow and the force behind it
Alger Mortis - Correct answer - 0-2 hours since death
- Latin term: lager (cold), mortis (dead)
- Body loses heat and core temp of about 98.6℉ (37℃) - drops to the ambient
(surrounding) temperature
- If death occurs in a hotter environment then body temp rises
- Factors influencing temperature change include:
temperature before death, the surrounding environment, type of clothing worn, side and
age of body, how the body is contained
- Core temp falls at a rate of about 1.5℉ per hour
Liver Mortis - Correct answer - 1-4 hours since death
- Liver: bluish color
- Blood begins to pool & clot in areas free of any pressure
- Gravity pulls heavy red blood cells downward, and with no heart pumping circulation,
these blood cells begin to sink and clot
- Pattern of bruising and blanching can determine the position of the body at the time of
death
Rigor Mortis - Correct answer - 2-4 hours since death
- Peaks at 24 hours, dissipates at 48 hours
- As the blood clots & settles, muscle cells cease aerobic function
- With no oxygen available, ATP (adenosine triphosphate) isn't produced and the
muscle cells have to function anaerobically (without oxygen)
- This creates a build-up of lactic acid in the muscle tissue
- Proteins (actin and myosin) fuse together while ATP would've kept them apart
- Form a gel-like substance, creates a stiffness throughout body
- Faster and shorter in a hot environment, for very young or very old people, or
increased body temp due to fevers
- Physical activity like running prior to death Inc. lactic acid levels causing a faster onset
of rigor in shorter duration
The Stages of Decomposition - Correct answer 1) Initial Decay (0-3 days)
- Microorganisms active internally
- Extensive gases produced
- Body intact & fresh in appearance
