Deck 5: Death Investigation

Question 1

Defense wounds are most typically seen on the:

A)Hands.
B)Face.
C)Shins.
D)Back.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The best place to take a blood sample in order to avoid contamination is the:

A)Inferior vena cava.
B)Superior vena cava.
C)Heart.
D)Femoral vein.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

What must a medical examiner possess?

A)Elected position
B)Medical degree
C)Board certification
D)Both B and C

Answer 3

B

Question 4

What can be used in identifying a deceased individual?

A)Fingerprinting
B)Dental examination
C)Facial reconstruction
D)All of the above

Question 5

Partially digested or dissolved pills can be seen in the:

A)Large intestine.
B)Stomach.
C)Small intestine.
D)Esophagus.

Question 6

Which factors can help to determine if a victim was alive during a fire?

A)Levels of carbon monoxide in the body
B)Extent of burns on the body
C)Soot in the larynx and trachea
D)Both A and C

Question 7

Characteristic markings on the skin caused from the discharge of a firearm is known as:

A)Staining.
B)Stippling.
C)Tattooing.
D)Both B and C

Question 8

Beginning an hour after death, the body will lose heat at an approximate rate of:

A)0 - 0.5°F per hour.
B)0)5 - 1°F per hour.
C)1 - 1.5°F per hour.
D)1)5 - 2°F per hour.

Question 9

Death at a fire scene is most often attributed to:

A)Carbon dioxide.
B)Carbon monoxide.
C)Nitrogen.
D)Hydrogen.

Question 10

The death of an individual suffering from chronic alcoholism is ruled:

A)Natural.
B)Accidental.
C)Suicide.
D)Undetermined.

Question 11

What does hemoglobin transport in the blood?

A)Hydrogen
B)Nitrogen
C)Carbon monoxide
D)Oxygen

Question 12

The largest percentage of accidental deaths is due to:

A)Drug overdoses.
B)Drowning.
C)Fire.
D)Traffic accidents.

Question 13

Which should be performed first at a death scene?

A)Secure the scene
B)Photographs
C)Sketch
D)Collect evidence

Question 14

A sharp force injury will most likely come from a:

A)Hammer.
B)Baseball bat.
C)Glass piece.
D)Cinder block.

Question 15

Adipocere typically takes about ________ weeks to develop.

A)2
B)4
C)8
D)12

Question 16

A body that displays a cherry-red discoloration might lead a pathologist to suspect poisoning by:

A)Cyanic acid.
B)Arsenic.
C)Pesticides.
D)Carbon monoxide.

Question 17

Pulmonary edema is frequently found in victims that chronically abuse:

A)Marijuana.
B)Amphetamines.
C)Heroin.
D)Alcohol.

Question 18

Lividity can be expected to be fixed after ________ hours.

A)2
B)4
C)16
D)24

Question 19

A pathologist would expect rigor mortis to disappear after ________ hours.

A)12
B)24
C)36
D)48

Question 20

Time of death can be approximated by analyzing the vitreous humor and the levels of:

A)Potassium.
B)Calcium.
C)Sodium.
D)Magnesium.

Question 21

Common drugs tested for during a death investigation do NOT include:

A)Alcohol.
B)Cocaine.
C)LSD.
D)Morphine/Heroin.

Question 22

The rate of cooling of a dead body can be influenced by all EXCEPT the:

A)Weather conditions.
B)Location.
C)Size of body.
D)Gender of victim.

Question 23

Hanging cases will typically display:

A)Fracture of the hyoid bone.
B)Fracture of the thyroid cartilage.
C)Abundance of large petechiae on the eyelids.
D)Blue appearance of the face.

Question 24

Rigor mortis refers to the:

A)Temperature of death.
B)Stiffness of death.
C)Color of death.
D)Time of death.

Question 25

The stage of fusion of various bones within a skeleton can be used to estimate the ________ of the decedent.

A)Sex
B)Race
C)Occupation
D)Age

Question 26

To determine the gender of skeletal remains, a forensic anthropologist can examine all of the following areas of the skeleton EXCEPT the:

A)Tibia.
B)Pelvis.
C)Sacrum.
D)Cranium.

Question 27

Homicide, suicide, accident, natural, and undetermined are all categories of:

A)Manner of death.
B)Cause of death.
C)Mechanism of death.
D)Method of death.

Question 28

A corpse was discovered in an apartment last November. It was that of a 50-year-old male who died of a heart attack. At the time of discovery, the body temperature was determined to be 89°F. What is the most probable post mortem interval?

A)1 hour
B)2 hours
C)7 hours
D)4 hours

Question 29

Types of autopsies include all of the following EXCEPT:

A)Criminal.
B)External.
C)Clinical.
D)Medicolegal.

Question 30

Putrefaction and autolysis are two types of ________ processes.

A)Rigor mortis
B)Decomposition
C)Livor mortis
D)Algor mortis

Question 31

Death intentionally caused by another person is typically ruled a(n):

A)Accident.
B)Suicide.
C)Homicide.
D)Natural.

Question 32

Which of the following techniques can be used to estimate the time of death?

A)Rigor mortis
B)Eye fluid potassium levels
C)Livor mortis
D)All of the above

Question 33

Negative photographs are:

A)Photographs that have not yet been developed.
B)Photographs that did not develop properly.
C)Photographs of uninjured parts of the body.
D)Photographs of injured parts of the body.

Question 34

Toxicological specimens are taken at which stage of the death investigation?

A)Death scene
B)Internal examination
C)External examination
D)Anytime

Question 35

What part of a decedent's body resists rapid decomposition and is used by forensic anthropologists to provide information about the decedent?

A)Teeth
B)Bones
C)Soft tissue
D)Cartilage

Question 36

Which is commonly fractured in strangulation cases?

A)Hyoid bone
B)Thyroid cartilage
C)Thymus cartilage
D)Nothing is typically fractured in strangulation cases.

Question 37

Evidence of tampering with the position of a body after death can be obtained by evaluating the:

A)Rigor mortis.
B)Algor mortis.
C)Livor mortis.
D)Both B and C

Question 38

According to forensic entomologists, which "witness" is the first to arrive at the crime scene?

A)Carrion beetle
B)Mite
C)Spider
D)Blowfly

Question 39

A forensic anthropologist may help to create a(n)________ to help with the identification of the victim.

A)Autopsy chart
B)Dental profile
C)Fingerprint chart
D)Facial reconstruction

Question 40

What part of the victim's body is often bagged in order to prevent loss of trace evidence?

A)Hands
B)Feet
C)Head
D)No part is bagged

Question 41

Estimations of the postmortem interval (PMI)using entomological evidence must take into account:

A)The geographical location of the decedent's body.
B)Weather conditions.
C)The location's climate over time.
D)All of the above

Question 42

The collection of evidence from a "tomb" site by a forensic anthropologist must include:

A)A careful recovery of all visible remains.
B)A thorough documentation of the site and all evidence.
C)A search of the surrounding area for related evidence.
D)All of the above

Question 43

The external examination involves classifying the injuries and examining the organs.

Question 44

General testing for poisons is a routine procedure carried out by the pathologist.

Question 45

The primary role of the medical examiner is to determine the cause and manner of death.

Question 46

The two types of autopsies are a clinical autopsy and a hospital autopsy.

Question 47

Which is NOT a manner of death?

A)Natural
B)Drowning
C)Homicide
D)Suicide

Question 48

Carbon monoxide levels continue to rise in the body even after death.

Question 49

Insect evidence should be collected:

A)At the scene by a forensic entomologist or trained investigator.
B)During the autopsy by the medical examiner.
C)Upon the finding of the decedent by the first responding officer.
D)At the crime laboratory by forensic analysts.

Question 50

X-rays are most commonly performed in gunshot wound cases and stab wound cases.

Question 51

High levels of carbon monoxide are needed to cause a victim to become disoriented.

Question 52

It is not feasible for a medical examiner to respond to every death scene in person.

Question 53

Another name for a bruise is a contusion.

Question 54

Photographs should be taken both of areas with injuries and areas without injuries.

Question 55

Chronic drug use is typically considered suicide by the medical examiner.

Question 56

If a cause of death cannot be found through simple observation of the victim, a(n)________ is typically carried out.

A)Autopsy
B)Crime-scene investigation
C)Drug screening
D)Anthropological profile

Question 57

The pathologist typically does not perform a drug analysis unless a drug overdose is suspected.

Question 58

As the post mortem interval increases, the concentration of potassium in the vitreous humor of the eye:

A)Increases.
B)Decreases.
C)Remains the same.
D)Varies based on gender.

Question 59

A pathologist must examine a body's wounds to determine if the death was a homicide and if the assailant had intent to kill.

Question 60

It is best to collect blood at distant areas of the body to obtain the most accurate drug levels.

Question 61

Skeletal bones are resistant to rapid decomposition.

Question 62

Rigor mortis occurs within 12 hours of death and disappears within 24 hours.

Question 63

Decomposition typically occurs on the face before the abdomen.

Question 64

The age of a skeleton can be determined by various factors, including the shape of the pelvis and sacrum, the size of the cranium, and the protrusion of the brow bone and mastoid process.

Question 65

The postmortem interval can be affected by various environmental conditions.

Question 66

The goal of a(n)________ autopsy is to determine the cause and manner of death.

Question 67

The forensic pathologist is also aided by the skills of specialists including forensic anthropologists, forensic entomologists, and forensic odontologists.

Question 68

The concentration of sodium in the eye fluids can help determine time of death.

Question 69

Forensic entomology is often used to help estimate the time of death.

Question 70

For gunshot victims, the cause of death can be listed as a gunshot wound.

Question 71

Types of injuries that are classified during the external autopsy include contusions, lacerations, and ________.

Question 72

After death, the body does not cool at a predictable rate.

Question 73

Disease and environmental abuse fall under the ________ category of manner of death.

Question 74

The onset of livor mortis begins immediately after death.

Question 75

The range of ________ involves the distance between the gun and the victim and can help in distinguishing between homicide and suicide.

Question 76

The known sequence of arrival of different insect groups cannot help to determine the postmortem interval.

Question 77

Livor mortis occurs when blood settles in parts of the body closest to the ground.

Question 78

Autolysis is carried out by microorganisms such as bacteria.

Question 79

Hemorrhages in the eyelids are known as ________.

Question 80

A body decomposing on a summer day will typically show increased progression of rigor mortis.