Forensics Algor, Livor, & Rigor Mortis

A body has been found strangled in the woods. It shows lividity on the lower abdomen, top of the buttocks, and back of the legs. Based on this evidence, the examiner estimates the body to have been dead for:

• 2-4 hours

• 6-8 hours

• 4-12 hours

• 2-16 hours

Which of the following are factors that can affect rigor mortis?

• temperature

• activity before death

• body weight

• all of these

A body is found that shows no signs of rigor mortis. The body has been dead for ....

• less than 2 hours or more than 24 hours

• less than 2 hours or more than 36 hours

• less than 24 hours or more than 48 hours

• more than 36 hours

Which statement about decomposition is true?

• an overweight person will decompose faster than a thin person

• a buried body will decompose slower than an unburied body

• decomposition will happen faster if the body is submerged in water

• temperature does not affect the rate of decomposition

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS2-3

An elderly man is found dead in his car with the windows down. He has been missing for 2 days. The average temperature has been 36 degrees F. How would these factors affect lividity, rigor mortis, and algor mortis rates?

• lividity - decreases

  rigor - decreases

  algor - increases

• lividity - decreases

  rigor - increases

  algor - unaffected

• lividity - decreases

  rigor - unaffected

  algor - increases

• lividity - increases

  rigor - increases

  algor - increases

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-4

The cooling of body temperature after death is:

• algor mortis
• livor mortis
• rigor mortis
• pallor mortis

The discoloration of a dead body caused by blood cells leaking hemoglobin is:

• putrefaction
• lividity
• autolysis
• sepsis

Discoloration of skin from pooling of blood becomes permanent after how many hours?

• 2 hours
• 8 hours
• 16 hours
• 32 hours

Rigor mortis means

• Death stiffness
• Death color
• Death bloat
• Death heat

"death color"

• autolysis
• algor mortis
• rigor mortis
• livor mortis