BSFS Forensic Pathology and Anthropology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Forensic odontology (forensic dentistry) is commonly used for victim identification because:
- Dental records and bite mark patterns are unique and teeth are highly resistant to decomposition and fire (Correct answer)
- Teeth contain DNA only accessible through dental analysis
- Dental age estimation is accurate to within one year for all individuals
- Bite marks on food are more reliable than DNA for identification
Correct answer: Dental records and bite mark patterns are unique and teeth are highly resistant to decomposition and fire
Teeth survive conditions that destroy soft tissue and bone, and dental records (X-rays, restorations, unique morphology) allow comparison-based identification of remains.
Question 2: The term 'petechial hemorrhages' in forensic pathology refers to:
- Tiny pinpoint hemorrhages in the conjunctiva or skin caused by increased venous pressure, often associated with asphyxia (Correct answer)
- Large bruises caused by blunt force trauma
- Hemorrhaging within the brain after head injury
- Bruising patterns left by a ligature around the neck
Correct answer: Tiny pinpoint hemorrhages in the conjunctiva or skin caused by increased venous pressure, often associated with asphyxia
Petechiae result from rupture of small capillaries under increased pressure during asphyxia, forming a classic finding in strangulation and hanging deaths.
Question 3: In forensic anthropology, the pubic symphysis is used primarily to estimate:
- Age at death in adult skeletons (Correct answer)
- Sex from pelvic dimensions
- Stature using bone length measurements
- Ancestry from skull morphology
Correct answer: Age at death in adult skeletons
The pubic symphysis undergoes predictable age-related changes in surface texture and morphology, making it one of the most reliable skeletal indicators of adult age.
Question 4: A contact gunshot wound to the head typically produces which distinctive finding around the wound?
- Soot, stippling, and a muzzle contusion (stellate/star-shaped laceration) from gases entering the wound (Correct answer)
- A clean, round entrance without any residue
- Only an exit wound with no entrance characteristics
- No powder residue because it is consumed at close range
Correct answer: Soot, stippling, and a muzzle contusion (stellate/star-shaped laceration) from gases entering the wound
Contact wounds show blackening from soot, no stippling (since powder doesn't travel through air), and gas-driven stellate skin lacerations when fired against the skull.
Question 5: Forensic entomology uses insect evidence at a scene primarily to:
- Estimate the postmortem interval (PMI) based on the developmental stage of insects colonizing remains (Correct answer)
- Determine the cause of death from insect-inflicted wounds
- Collect DNA evidence from insects that fed on the victim
- Identify the geographic origin of the victim's remains
Correct answer: Estimate the postmortem interval (PMI) based on the developmental stage of insects colonizing remains
Insects such as blowflies colonize remains in predictable succession patterns; the development stage of larvae allows estimation of how long the body has been present.
Question 6: Which type of fracture pattern in bone is characteristic of a perimortem (at or near the time of death) injury rather than a postmortem fracture?
- Green stick-type fractures with bone bending and grease band margins while the bone was still fresh and hydrated (Correct answer)
- Clean, dry transverse breaks with no associated soft tissue
- Chalky white fractures with no discoloration
- Fractures showing moss or root intrusion along the break
Correct answer: Green stick-type fractures with bone bending and grease band margins while the bone was still fresh and hydrated
Fresh, hydrated bone fractures differently than dry bone; perimortem fractures show plastic deformation and distinctive margins, whereas postmortem breaks are clean and brittle.
BSFS Forensic Pathology and Anthropology 2
Forensic odontology (forensic dentistry) is commonly used for victim identification because: