Post Mortem Interval (PMI)

Question 1

post mortem interval

Answer 1

time since death

Question 2

what happens when the time frame of finding a body increases?

Answer 2

the specific time of death decreases

Question 3

what happens in the first 24 hours of death?

Answer 3

mortis changes occur; because it is within the first 24 hours, the time of death can be more specific

Question 4

algor mortis

Answer 4

cooling of body temperature

Question 5

livor mortis

Answer 5

settling of blood, causes discoloration in the skin

Question 6

rigor mortis

Answer 6

amount of muscle stiffness

Question 7

vitreous humors

Answer 7

changes in the eye fluid

Question 8

who is called after 24 hours of death?

Answer 8

• forensic entomologist
• forensic botanist
• forensic anthropologist
  
  • uses decomposition, skeletonization, and forensic taphonomy

Question 9

two factors of decomposition

Answer 9

autolysis and putrefaction

Question 10

autolysis

Answer 10

• degeneration of body tissue by digestive fluids in the intestinal tract
• digest the body like food, causing destruction of internal organs

Question 11

putrefaction

Answer 11

• breakdown of biological elements due to the proliferation of microorganisms normally present in the body
• occurs due to unhindered production of bacteria which eat away at tissues
• causes bloating

Question 12

what are the stages of decomposition?

Answer 12

• fresh death
• bloating
• active decay
• skeletonization

Question 13

what factors affect decomposition?

Answer 13

temperature, humidity, and accessibility

Question 14

what happens to remains in warm areas?

Answer 14

display more insect activity and decay faster

Question 15

what happens to remains in dry areas?

Answer 15

they decompose slower (desicate)

Question 16

what happens to remains in open areas/with open wounds?

Answer 16

attract animals and decompose faster

Question 17

who eats the body first?

Answer 17

1. maggots
2. beetles
3. carnivors
4. rodents

Question 18

what do adult and larvae beetles eat?

Answer 18

larvae eat decaying wet tissues, and adults eat drier tissues

Question 19

how do insects affect PMI?

Answer 19

• insects appear in predictable patterns

- their lifecycles are used to predict PMI

Question 20

which two insects ratios can you use to predict PMI?

Answer 20

beetles and flies

Question 21

how many months after death do cheese flies appear?

Answer 21

3-6 months

Question 22

what can insects help determine?

Answer 22

• the time since death
• season since death
• geological location
• personal habits of the decedent

Question 23

what happens to remains within the first week?

Answer 23

• bloating and collapse
• maggots on face, predatory beetles
• skin slippage
• bones become exposed

Question 24

what happens to remains within the first month?

Answer 24

• dermestid beetles
• bones exposed
• mummification (dry climates)
• saponification (wet climates)

Question 25

saponification

Answer 25

hydrolyzed body fat; seen in decomposition within the first month in wet climates

Question 26

what happens to remains within the first year?

Answer 26

- skeleton fully exposed - sun bleaching - moss and algae on bones - rodent gnawing - hard to give exact time of death

Question 27

what happens to remains within the first decade?

Answer 27

- delamination - rodent modification - longitudinal cracks - root growth through bones

Question 28

what is the anatomical position?

Answer 28

- standing - face forward - arms at the side of body - palms forward w/ thumbs on the outside - toes forward

Question 29

what are the three anatomical planes?

Answer 29

- sagital - coronal - transvers

Question 30

sagital plane

Answer 30

- midline | - divides the body into symmetrical left and right halves

Question 31

coronal plane

Answer 31

divides body into anterior and posterior halves | right angle of the sagital

Question 32

transverse plane

Answer 32

- passes through at any moment at any height | - is perpendicular to the other planes

Question 33

when viewing a subject, what are the directions in correlation to?

Answer 33

- right and left of the subject, not the observer - if the area of description is on your left, you would state it was on the right because that is the position of the subject

Question 34

superior

Answer 34

towards the head in a humanoid body

Question 35

inferior

Answer 35

away from the head

Question 36

posterior

Answer 36

toward the back, dorsal

Question 37

anterior

Answer 37

toward the front, ventral

Question 38

medial

Answer 38

toward the midline

Question 39

lateral

Answer 39

away from the midline

Question 40

proximal

Answer 40

- has to do with the limbs | - nearest the trunk

Question 41

distal

Answer 41

- has to do with the limbs | - further from the trunk

Question 42

palmar

Answer 42

palm side of the hand

Question 43

plantar

Answer 43

sole of the foot. what touches the ground

Question 44

dorsal

Answer 44

top of the foot, back of the hand

Question 45

superficial

Answer 45

close to the surface

Question 46

deep

Answer 46

away from the surface

Question 47

bilateral

Answer 47

on both sides of the body

Question 48

unilateral

Answer 48

on one side of the body

Question 49

ipsilateral

Answer 49

occurring on the same side of the body

Question 50

contralateral

Answer 50

occurring on opposite sides of the body