BSFS Forensic Pathology and Anthropology

Question 1

Which term describes the stiffening of muscles that occurs after death due to the depletion of ATP?

Accepted Answer

Rigor mortis

Answer

Livor mortis

Answer

Algor mortis

Answer

Putrefaction

Question 2

Livor mortis (lividity) refers to the postmortem settling of blood that causes:

Accepted Answer

Purplish-red discoloration of dependent body areas due to gravity-driven blood pooling

Answer

Generalized green discoloration of the skin

Answer

Whitening of the skin due to blood loss

Answer

Swelling of the extremities from fluid accumulation

Question 3

The manner of death refers to:

Accepted Answer

The circumstances under which death occurred (natural, accident, homicide, suicide, undetermined)

Answer

The specific disease or injury that directly caused death

Answer

The medical mechanism by which life ceased

Answer

The physical location where the individual died

Question 4

In forensic anthropology, the 'biological profile' of unidentified skeletal remains includes which four components?

Accepted Answer

Sex, age, ancestry, and stature

Answer

Name, height, weight, and cause of death

Answer

DNA type, blood type, fingerprints, and dentition

Answer

Occupation, health history, geographic origin, and date of death

Question 5

An entrance gunshot wound typically differs from an exit wound in that the entrance wound is usually:

Accepted Answer

Smaller, more regular in shape, and may show an abrasion collar

Answer

Larger with irregular, star-shaped margins

Answer

Always surrounded by stippling regardless of range

Answer

Located exclusively on the dorsal surface of the body

Question 6

Algor mortis is the postmortem phenomenon used to estimate time of death based on:

Accepted Answer

The cooling of the body after death until it equilibrates with ambient temperature

Answer

The rate of muscle stiffening after death

Answer

Chemical changes in the vitreous humor of the eye

Answer

The degree of putrefactive odor produced