Ch 11 Forensic Science: Post-Mortem Changes

What are the five classifications for the manner of death?

• Natural, accidental, suicide, homicide, undetermined

• Natural, accidental, murder, self-inflicted, unknown

• Illness, injury, self-harm, violence, mystery

• Disease, accident, intentional, criminal, ambiguous

What is the difference between the cause of death and the mechanism of death?

• Cause is the reason, mechanism is the specific bodily change

• Cause is how someone died, mechanism is why they died

• Cause is the external factor, mechanism is the internal factor

• Cause is the immediate event, mechanism is the long-term effect

After how many hours does the discoloration from livor mortis become permanent, meaning it will not shift if the body is moved?

• 2 hours

• 4 hours

• 8 hours

• 12 hours

How does a warmer environment affect the process of livor mortis?

• It slows down the breakdown of red blood cells

• It accelerates the process, making discoloration permanent quicker

• It has no significant effect on the process

• It prevents the blood from settling in lower parts of the body

What causes skeletal muscles to become stiff during rigor mortis?

• Accumulation of potassium without oxygen

• Lack of blood flow to the muscles

• Accumulation of calcium in muscles without oxygen

• Breakdown of muscle fibers due to decomposition

In what order does rigor mortis typically progress through the body?

• Starts in lower limbs, then moves to the torso and face

• Starts in the chest, then moves to the limbs and face

• Starts in the eyelids and jaw, moves upward through the face, then downward to chest, upper limbs, abdomen, and lower limbs

• Starts in the abdomen, then moves to the face and limbs

Approximately how long after death is rigor mortis complete, making the entire body rigid?

• 2 to 6 hours

• 12 hours

• 15 to 36 hours

• 36 to 48 hours

When does rigor mortis typically disappear completely, and muscles become relaxed again?

• After 6 hours

• After 12 hours

• Between 15 and 36 hours

• Between 36 and 48 hours

How does aerobic exercise before death affect the onset and progression of rigor mortis?

• It slows down rigor mortis due to increased oxygen in muscles

• It accelerates rigor mortis due to oxygen depletion and higher body temperature

• It has no effect on rigor mortis

• It causes rigor mortis to skip certain muscle groups

Which factor would accelerate the onset and progression of rigor mortis?

• Cold temperature

• Warm temperature

• Sleep before death

• Obese body weight