Death Investigation Vocabulary

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

A body is found with blistering skin that is slipping off of the muscle underneath. There is a strong odor and maggots are seen covering the body. Which stage of decomposition is this body in?

• bloating (putrefaction)

• advanced decay

• active decay (black putrefaction)

• fresh (initial)

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

the stiffening of the skeletal muscles shortly after death

• livor mortis
• autolysis
• rigor mortis
• algor mortis

the process of rotting and break down

• rigor mortis
• decomposition
• livor mortis
• putrefaction

the spontaneous breakdown of cells as they self-digest

• rigor mortis
• algor mortis
• pupa/pupae
• autolysis