Principles of Forensic Pathology Flashcards
7 cards from real ABFM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Principles of Forensic Pathology flashcards as text
Which factor most significantly affects the rate of decomposition of a buried body?
Answer: Soil type, temperature, and depth of burial
Soil temperature, type, moisture, and burial depth are the primary environmental factors controlling microbial activity and thus the rate of decomposition.
In a hanging death, which neck structure injury would most support a homicide rather than a suicide or accident?
Answer: Fracture of the hyoid bone with associated hemorrhage in a young victim
A hyoid fracture with surrounding soft tissue hemorrhage in a younger person (whose hyoid is more flexible) raises concern for manual strangulation rather than hanging.
What does the term 'vital reaction' mean in forensic pathology?
Answer: Evidence of a tissue response indicating the injury occurred while the victim was alive
Vital reaction refers to signs of biological response (inflammation, hemorrhage, healing) around an injury site, confirming it occurred ante-mortem rather than post-mortem.
A body is found in an advanced state of decomposition with adipocere formation. Which environmental condition is most conducive to adipocere development?
Answer: Warm, moist, or submerged conditions with limited oxygen
Adipocere (saponification of body fat) forms when anaerobic bacteria act on fatty tissue in warm, moist, oxygen-poor environments such as burial in wet soil or submersion.
Which forensic finding best distinguishes a hesitation wound from a defensive wound in a suspected suicide by sharp force?
Answer: Hesitation wounds are superficial, parallel, clustered cuts; defensive wounds are on forearms and hands
Hesitation marks are shallow, parallel incisions near a fatal wound indicating tentative attempts before the lethal cut, while defensive wounds on forearms reflect attempts to block an attacker.
In forensic toxicology, what is 'post-mortem redistribution' (PMR)?
Answer: Post-mortem diffusion of drugs from solid organs into adjacent blood, altering concentrations
PMR occurs when drugs diffuse from high-concentration sites (liver, lungs, GI tract) into adjacent blood vessels after death, causing central blood drug levels to exceed peripheral levels.
Which wound morphology is most characteristic of a high-velocity rifle bullet exit wound compared to a handgun exit wound?
Answer: Larger, more irregular and stellate exit wound due to greater cavitation
High-velocity rifle rounds create greater temporary cavitation, resulting in larger, more ragged or stellate exit wounds compared to the typically smaller exits of lower-velocity handgun rounds.