Blood and Blood Spatter in Forensic Science

Open Ended

How can blood be used as both individual evidence and physical evidence in forensic investigations?

Multiple Select

Why is the study of blood and blood spatter significant in forensic science investigations?

• It allows us to reconstruct the events at a crime scene.

• It is only used for medical diagnosis.

• It is mainly used to determine blood type for transfusions.

• It helps identify suspects and/or victims through DNA analysis

Multiple Select

White blood cells are part of the immune system and fight against ___.

• illness
• foreign particles and microbial invaders to the body

• violent crime suspects

• injuries through blood clotting

Multiple Choice

Which component of blood is responsible for carrying oxygen to all parts of the body?

• Red blood cells

• White blood cells

• Platelets

• Plasma

Multiple Select

Which of the following are types of white blood cells?

• Monocyte

• Eosinophil

• Platelet

• Lymphocyte

Multiple Choice

What percentage of blood is made up of white blood cells?

• 55%

• 45%

• <1%

• 25%

Multiple Choice

Which blood component can be used for DNA profiling?

• White blood cells

• Red blood cells

• Platelets

• Plasma

Open Ended

Which is more critical when ruptured: an artery or a vein? Why?

Multiple Choice

Which blood type is the least common in the United States?

• Type A

• Type B

• Type AB

• Type O

Open Ended

Explain the significance of A, B, and rH proteins in blood typing and how their presence or absence affects blood type classification.

Multiple Select

Select all correct statements about Rh protein and blood typing.

• Rh protein is present in 85% of the population.

• Type A+ blood has both A and Rh proteins.

• Type B- blood has only B protein and no Rh protein.

• O- blood type has none of the three proteins

Multiple Select

Which of the following can be determined from bloodstain pattern analysis during crime scene reconstruction?

• Type of violent interaction

• Identity of the victim

• Exact time of death

• Type of weapon used

Multiple Select

Which of the following forces act on blood that exits the body?

• Cohesion

• Adhesion

• Gravity

• Evaporation

Open Ended

Explain how blood spatter analysis can help reconstruct a violent crime. Include at least two focus points that are important in the analysis.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements about blood spatter properties is correct?

• Satellite droplets form when blood overcomes cohesion and separates from the main droplet.

• Spikes only form on smooth surfaces.

• Blood is less viscous than water.

• Cohesion causes blood to stick to other surfaces.

Open Ended

What is the difference between satellite droplets and spikes in blood spatter, and what does the surface type have to do with their formation?

Multiple Choice

Which feature of a blood droplet helps determine the direction it was traveling?

• The roundness of the drop

• The color of the blood

• The location of tails and satellites

• The size of the drop

Open Ended

Explain the differences between passive, projected, and transfer bloodstains, and provide an example of each.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are types of projected spatter patterns?

• Impact

• Cast-Off

• Spurts

• Passive

Open Ended

Describe how cast-off patterns are formed and what information they can provide in a forensic investigation.

Multiple Choice

What causes arterial spurts, and how do they appear at a crime scene?

• A torn vein causes blood to ooze slowly, creating small stains.

• A pumping heart projects blood out of the body through an open wound, creating large, arcing stains.

• Blood drips from a stationary object, creating round stains.

• A weapon is wiped on a surface, creating smeared stains.

Open Ended

Describe how the size of blood drops help to determine their velocity they were traveling upon impact.

Multiple Select

How does the shape of the drop help us determine the angle of impact?

• Rounder drops have a smaller angle of impact

• Elongated oval drops have a smaller angle of impact

• Bigger drops have a smaller angle of impact

• Smaller drops have a smaller angle of impact

Multiple Choice

How does blood spatter analysis contribute to forensic investigations?

• It helps determine the cause of death

• It provides clues about the physical events at a crime scene

• It identifies the blood type of the victim

• It reveals the identity of the perpetrator

Open Ended

Reflecting on today's lesson, what questions do you still have about the use of blood and blood spatter in forensic investigation?