Forensic Science Applications Flashcards
6 cards from real ABMDI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Forensic Science Applications flashcards as text
Which of the following describes the principle of Locard's Exchange?
Answer: Every person at a scene leaves something behind and takes something away
Locard's Exchange Principle states that whenever two objects come into contact, there is a transfer of material between them. This is the foundational principle of trace evidence.
Forensic anthropology is most useful to an MDI investigation when:
Answer: Skeletal or highly decomposed remains must be assessed for biological profile (age, sex, ancestry, stature)
Forensic anthropologists specialize in analyzing skeletal and highly decomposed remains to estimate biological profile and detect trauma.
In a suspected drowning death, which autopsy finding is commonly associated with drowning but is NOT pathognomonic (specific) for it?
Answer: Pulmonary edema and water in the airways
Pulmonary edema and water in the airways are common in drowning but can also occur in other causes of death. They are not diagnostic of drowning alone.
What does stippling (tattooing) at a gunshot wound indicate about the firing distance?
Answer: The shot was fired within an intermediate range (approximately 6 inches to 3-4 feet), close enough for unburned gunpowder to embed in skin
Stippling (powder tattooing) is caused by unburned or partially burned gunpowder particles embedding in the skin, which only occurs within intermediate range.
Which toxicological specimen is preferred for postmortem analysis to avoid postmortem redistribution artifacts?
Answer: Peripheral blood from the femoral vein
Femoral vein (peripheral) blood is preferred because it is furthest from drug-rich tissues (gut, liver, lung), minimizing postmortem redistribution artifacts.
Wound track analysis during autopsy helps the MDI and medical examiner to:
Answer: Establish the direction of bullet travel, range of fire, and potential weapon characteristics
Wound track analysis establishes bullet trajectory (direction of travel), which informs reconstruction of the shooting including relative positions of shooter and victim, range, and weapon type.