forensic pathology

Question 1

Pathology

Answer 1

• A medical Specialty
• study of the structural and morphological changes to the body as a result of a disease state
• often called Anatomic Pathology

Question 2

Forensic Pathology

Answer 2

Determination of cause an manner of death in cases of susicious, unexplained, or violent deaths

• about 1/3 of all deaths
• whitney houston, mark anthony

Question 3

Forensic Pathologists

Answer 3

• Primarily determine cause of death
• also review past medical history
• better understand how it could have influenced that death

Question 4

Pathologists first appeared in the

Answer 4

Mid 19th century

Question 5

what instruments propelled this study by the examination of tissues

Answer 5

microscope

Question 6

Pathology is derrived from?

Answer 6

Pathos: Suffering or disease
Logos: word or writting

Question 7

Dr. Henry fisher

Answer 7

Pathologist C. 1890
pittsburg or penstate
looking through micrscope what got forensic patholgy going
normal vs disease tissue morphology

Question 8

Duties of Forensic pathologist

Answer 8

• Determine the identity of the deceased
• determine the apparent cause and manner of death
• determine or estimate the post- mortem Interval (PMI)

Question 9

Autopsies

Answer 9

Autopsy- to look at oneself
necropsy- to look at the dead
- autopsies have been practiced since the middle ages
- the term atuopsy is generally used in the us
rather than necropsy for dead animals

Question 10

Autopsy Process

Answer 10

• Proceeds in logical manner form the outside to the inside (patholgists often dictates finidings during the autopsy)
• Examines the body to determine cause and manner of death (also searches the body for physical evidence which can yeild clues to the indentiy of the deceased, if unknown.)

Question 11

Autopsy

Answer 11

Jasmine Fiore
discovered in a suitcase in a trash dump, her fingers and teeth were removed
x boyfriend killed her then hung himself

Question 12

Autopsy Process (external examination)

Answer 12

detailed examination of the entire body is made

• all wounds and trauma are noted
• body is photographed clothed and unclothed

Question 13

Autopsy Process (external examination ) #2

Answer 13

assesment of wounds

• objects may have caused death are removed
• x-rays are taken
• nail gun example

Question 14

Autopsy Process (internal Examination)

Answer 14

• incisions created in the chest, abdomen and head
• Removal of organs form those areas of the body
• T shaped incisioin is typically used
• facilitates examination of the neck

Question 15

Brain Removal

Answer 15

Incision from behind one ear to behind the other ear

• scalp is pulled upward and backward
• skull is sawed circullary
• Brain may be disected immediately, or placed in formaldehyde to preserve tissue for better examination

Question 16

Other internal organs are removed and ______

Answer 16

weighed

Question 17

Organs are dissected in order to determine

Answer 17

Disease or injury

Question 18

examples of extensive dissection and removal

Answer 18

child abuse, blunt trauma

Question 19

Obtaining appropriate specimens

Answer 19

Toxicolgy requires specimens for testing

• blood is taken from the aorta and else where
• bile is taken from the gall bladder
• urine from bladder taken with hyperdermic needle

Question 20

Specimens tested for drugs

Answer 20

Blood, urine, liver, kidney, and brain specimens

Question 21

Tested for alcohol

Answer 21

Blood

Question 22

other factors to consider

Answer 22

medical history, witness statements, scene examintion, and autopsy may be used to search for other drugs

Question 23

Microscopic examination

Answer 23

• small portions of organs are put in formaldehyde (preserves them for study)
• diseased or injured sections of tissue are taken (normal tissue is taken, for comparison)
• tissue is encased in parrafin and is mounted on slides (examined under a light microscope)

Question 24

Most pathologists preserves specimens of tissue for ______?

Answer 24

DNA analysis

-must not be stored in formaldehyde for to long (DNA becomes hydrolyized and become unsuitable for study)

Question 25

Patters Of Injury: Classification of Violent deaths

Answer 25

1) Mechanical 2) Thermal 3) Electrical 4) Chemical

Question 26

Violent Deaths : Mechanical Causes

Answer 26

- most common types of violent deaths | - eg. stabbing or gunshot

Question 27

Two Types of Mechanical Causes

Answer 27

1) Sharp Force Injuries: causes an incised wound, relatively sharp edges 2) Blunt Force Injuries: cause a laceration, has rough edges

Question 28

Firearm Injuries is what type of of injury?

Answer 28

Blunt Force Injury | -Different injury patterns (bullet vs. pellets)

Question 29

T or F | High speed bullets from rifles cause more damage than low speed pellets from shotguns or pistols?

Answer 29

True

Question 30

Perforating wounds

Answer 30

wounds that either enter or exit the body

Question 31

Firearm Injuries: Gunshot wound Types

Answer 31

1) Contact 2) Intermediate 3) Distant

Question 32

Contact Gun Shot wounds

Answer 32

- gun pressed next to body and discharged - entry wound shows blackening and swelling form release of hot gasses - often causes laceration

Question 33

Intermediate Gun shot wound

Answer 33

unburned and partially burned propellant lodged in the skin

Question 34

Distant Gun Shot wound

Answer 34

No stipplings

Question 35

Interruption of oxygen to the brain is

Answer 35

Asphyxia

Question 36

Asyphyxia leas to a low level of oxygen in the brain which is called a (Cerebral Hypoxia)

Answer 36

True

Question 37

Asphixia may be caused by

Answer 37

1) drowning 2) suffocation (smoothering) (auto erotic) 3) Stragulation - manual (using hands) - non manual ( by ligature) 4) Inhalation of toxic chemicals (not common)

Question 38

Air Concentrations

Answer 38

``` Nitrogen=76% Argon=1% oxygen:21% normal air 21% 10-15% judgement/ coordination impaired 10% loss of consciousness 8% death ```

Question 39

Drowning

Answer 39

Death from asphyxiation due to immersion in water or other liquid - Almost always accidental - Leading cause of death in children under age of 5 - Generally a dignosis of exclusion