Forensic Death Investigation Flashcards
7 cards from real CSI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Forensic Death Investigation flashcards as text
What does 'manner of death undetermined' on a death certificate typically indicate?
Answer: Insufficient evidence exists to classify the death into one of the standard categories
An 'undetermined' ruling is used when the available evidence does not allow the medical examiner to certify the manner as natural, accident, homicide, or suicide with reasonable certainty.
A body found in a burned structure has a 'pugilistic posture.' What does this mean?
Answer: Heat caused muscle contraction drawing the limbs into a boxing stance
The pugilistic posture results from heat-induced protein denaturation and muscle contraction, causing the arms to flex and rise into a boxing position; it is a post-mortem artifact, not evidence of a struggle.
Which of the following best explains why a medical examiner would order a 'postmortem CT scan' prior to autopsy?
Answer: To visualize fractures, projectiles, and internal injuries without disturbing evidence
Pre-autopsy CT scanning (virtopsy) allows the forensic pathologist to document skeletal injuries, embedded projectiles, and internal hemorrhage in a non-destructive manner before the body is opened.
During a death investigation, you find 'Lichtenberg figures' on the victim's skin. What is the most likely cause of death?
Answer: Lightning strike
Lichtenberg figures (feathering or fern-like skin patterns) are pathognomonic for lightning strike and result from electron avalanche tracking across the skin surface.
In documenting a sharp-force fatality, which feature of the wound helps determine the approximate width of the blade?
Answer: The length of the skin wound opening
The length of the wound opening (the skin defect) approximates the width of the blade at the point of maximum insertion, assuming the wound was made perpendicularly and the skin was not distorted.
What is 'clandestine grave' detection most commonly assisted by in modern forensic death investigations?
Answer: Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and cadaver dogs
Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) detects soil disturbance and buried objects without excavation, while cadaver dogs locate decomposition odor; together they are the most common tools for finding clandestine graves.
Which of the following is the correct sequence for the forensic autopsy?
Answer: Documentation → external examination → internal examination → toxicology specimen collection
The standard autopsy sequence begins with thorough documentation (photography, scene notes), then external examination of the body surface, followed by internal examination, and finally collection of specimens for toxicology.