Forensic Pathology & Postmortem Changes Quiz

A medical doctor who specializes in studying diseases, and in forensics, determines cause and manner of death, is called a:

• Toxicologist

• Coroner

• Pathologist (medical examiner)

• Mortician

If a person is struck by a falling rock during a hike, the manner of death would be classified as:

• Natural

• Accident

• Homicide

• Undetermined

Which of the following best describes a natural manner of death?

• A person dies from a gunshot wound.

• A person dies from a heart attack.

• A person dies in a car accident.

• A person dies from poisoning

What is pathology?

• The study of plants and their life cycles

• The scientific study of disease and its impact on the body

• The study of crime scenes and evidence

• The study of human anatomy

Which of the following is not one of the five manners of death?

• Natural

• Suicide

• Homicide

• Infectious

A person intentionally takes an overdose of pills and dies. What manner of death is this?

• Accident

• Suicide

• Homicide

• Undetermined

“Postmortem” literally means:

• After disease

• Before death

• After death

• Body condition

Livor mortis is also known as the:

• “Stiffness of death”

• “Temperature of death”

• “Color of death”

• “Process of death”

How soon after death does livor mortis typically begin?

• Immediately at the moment of death

• 20 minutes to 3 hours after death

• 12–24 hours after death

• After rigor mortis ends

If a body is found lying on its back, livor mortis would most likely be observed:

• On the face, chest, and abdomen

• On the back, head, and backs of arms and legs

• On the palms and soles of the feet

• Only in the fingertips