Deck 12: Death: Manner, Mechanism, Cause

Question 1

If a body shows no visible rigor, it has probably been dead:

A)less than two hours or more than forty-eight hours.
B)less than ten hours or more than seventy-two hours.
C)less than twenty-four hours or more than seventy-two hours.
D)more than two hours or less than forty-eight hours.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The underlying cause of death is called the:

A)cause of death.
B)proximate cause of death.
C)manner of death.
D)None of these choices.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

To take a corpse's temperature, forensic investigators insert a thermometer into the:

A)into the liver or rectum.
B)into the stomach or mouth.
C)between the toes.
D)under or behind the ear.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Factors affecting rigor include:

A)temperature.
B)activity before death.
C)body weight.
D)All of these choices.

Question 5

Pooling of blood in the body, known as lividity, provides a clue as to how long the person has been dead.Lividity first begins about:

A)two hours after death.
B)four hours after death.
C)six hours after death.
D)eight hours after death.

Question 6

A man with a heart condition is attacked and dies from a heart attack during the attack.In this case, the manner of death is:

A)accident.
B)homicide.
C)natural death.
D)suicide.

Question 7

Medical examiners help determine the time of death by studying the stomach contents.In general, it takes:

A)six to eight hours for the stomach to empty its contents into the small intestine and another twelve hours for the food to leave the small intestine.
B)four to six hours for the stomach to empty its contents into the small intestine and another eighteen hours for the food to leave the small intestine.
C)four to six hours for the stomach to empty its contents into the small intestine and another twelve hours for the food to leave the small intestine.
D)None of these choices.

Question 8

In the 17th century, before the stethoscope was invented, anyone in a coma or with a weak heartbeat was presumed dead, and buried.

Question 9

Death stiffness is roughly defined as:

A)cause of death.
B)manner of death.
C)rigor mortis.
D)liver mortis.

Question 10

Natural death is caused by interruption and failure of body functions due to age or disease.This is the least common manner of death.

Question 11

An elderly woman dies after being kept from receiving proper health care by her children.The manner of her death would be:

A)accident.
B)suicide.
C)natural death.
D)homicide.

Question 12

Dual lividity could occur if the body was kept in one position:

A)two hours after death, and then moved to a second position before the lividity became permanent.
B)ten hours after death, and then moved to a second position before the lividity became permanent.
C)nine hours after death, and then moved to a second position before the lividity became permanent.
D)None of these choices.

Question 13

The reason someone dies is called the:

A)manner of death
B)cause of death.
C)type of death.
D)None of these choices.

Question 14

The specific change in the body that brought about the cessation of life is called the:

A)manner of death.
B)cause of death.
C)mechanism of death.
D)proximate cause of death.

Question 15

Algor mortis means roughly:

A)death heat and describes the temperature gain in a corpse.
B)death heat and describes the temperature loss in a corpse.
C)death chill and describes the temperature loss in a corpse.
D)None of these choices.

Question 16

Rigor mortis is:

A)permanent.
B)one cause of death.
C)temporary.
D)one manner of death.

Question 17

There are three ways a person can die, referred to in official terms as the manner of death: natural death, accidental death, and homicidal death.

Question 18

Liver mortis means roughly, the:

A)moment of death.
B)day of death.
C)death color.
D)time of death.

Question 19

A homicide is the death of one person caused by a minimum of two or more persons.

Question 20

Experts cannot agree on a single definition for death.

Question 21

What accumulates inside the eye after death? _______________________________

Question 22

Following death, the surface of the eye ____________________________.

Question 23

A "Rule of Thumb" PMI estimate is that if a body feels warm and is stiff, it has probably been dead for how long? ___________________________________.

Question 24

The speed of decomposition, or the rotting of all tissues and organs in the body, depends on the age, size of the body, and the __________________________________________.

Question 25

Within minutes of a death, certain insects arrive to _____________________________on the warm body, attracted by the smell of the first stages of decomposition.