Pathology

Question 1

forensic pathology

Answer 1

subfield that focuses on determining cause of death for persons who died suddenly, unexpectedly, or violently

Question 2

external examination during autopsy

Answer 2

• inspection of external surface
• weight and measurement
• signs of decomposition
• associated objects
• note injuries, scars, and tattoos

Question 3

opening the trunk during an autopsy

Answer 3

• opening up the midsection
• Y incision
• sternal plate removed

Question 4

examination of internal organs in an autopsy

Answer 4

organs are removed, examined, weighted, and dissected

Question 5

tissues during an autopsy

Answer 5

• sections of diseased or injured tissues and preserved for further studies
• specimens for toxicology testing
• DNA analysis

Question 6

how are tissues preserved?

Answer 6

• fixed in formaldehyde
• encased in paraffin
• stained
• mounted on glass slide

Question 7

specimens for toxicology testing

Answer 7

• urine
• blood
• bile

Question 8

DNA analysis during autopsy

Answer 8

• blood
• hairs pulled from head
• non preserved tissue

Question 9

removal of the brain during autopsy

Answer 9

• cut made ear to ear along the back of the head
• skin folded over and a stryker saw is used to cut through the cranial vault

Question 10

final tasks of an autopsy

Answer 10

• return organs
• sew skin back in place
• wash

Question 11

blunt force injury - bruise

Answer 11

• blood escapes from damaged vessels
• many factors affect degree of bruising

Question 12

age of bruise

Answer 12

• hemoglobin -> biliverdin -> bilirubin
• blue / red -> purple -> green -> light green -> yellow

Question 13

blunt force injuries

Answer 13

• sufficient force to overstretch the skin to the point of tearing
• most common in skin directly over bone

Question 14

sharp force trauma - incised wound

Answer 14

• clean edges
• no bridges
• longer than deep
• lack of bruising

Question 15

sharp force trauma - stab wound

Answer 15

• puncture wound
• deeper than wide
• some bruising

Question 16

aging wounds

Answer 16

• injuries, day before death show signs of healing
• very hard to distinguish wounds created before, during, and after death

Question 17

asphyxia

Answer 17

1. cells don’t receive oxygen
2. cells receive oxygen but cannot use it
3. cells are unable to eliminate carbon dioxide

Question 18

what affects the degree of brusing

Answer 18

• force of hit
• material hit with
• area of body hit
• medications
• blood disorders
• age

Question 19

categories of asphyxia

Answer 19

• airway obstruction
• neck/ chest compression
• postural/ positional
• environmental
• poisoning

Question 20

pathological features of asphyxiation

Answer 20

• cyanosis
• petechiae

Question 21

cyanosis

Answer 21

• condition of being blue
• no oxygen makes hemoglobin darker

Question 22

petechiae

Answer 22

• blood vessels bursting
• comes from pressure on veins or arteries

Question 23

hanging

Answer 23

ligature furrows elevate to the back and side of the neck, behind the ears

Question 24

strangulation

Answer 24

• ligature furrows lower, horizontal, completely encircles the neck
• back of the neck has trauma

Question 25

how to determine if death was before or after a fire?

Answer 25

- soot in LUNGS (not just airways - saturation level of carboxyhemoglobin > 10%

Question 26

how does CO kill you?

Answer 26

- hemoglobin carries oxygen and carbon dioxide - carbon monoxide binds very tightly to hemoglobin - oxygen and carbon dioxide can no longer be carried

Question 27

gun shot wounds: entrance vs exit wound

Answer 27

exit woulds are always larger than entrance wounds

Question 28

contact range of shot

Answer 28

- muzzle imprint - marrow ring of soot on skin - ballooning / laceration of surrounding skin

Question 29

intermediate range of shot

Answer 29

- wider zone of powder stippling - lack laceration - lack of muzzle imprint

Question 30

distant range of shot

Answer 30

- lack stippling - hole = caliber size