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

Rigor mortis begins 2–6 hours after death, peaks at 12 hours, and resolves by 24–48 hours as muscle proteins break down due to loss of ATP-driven cross-bridge cycling.

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

After circulation stops, blood pools in the lowest (dependent) areas of the body under gravity, creating fixed purple-red discoloration that helps estimate time of death and body position.

Question 3

The manner of death refers to:

Accepted Answer

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

Answer

Manner of death is a medicolegal classification of the circumstances of death, whereas cause of death identifies the specific condition responsible for dying.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Sex, age, ancestry, and stature

Answer

Forensic anthropologists establish a biological profile by estimating sex from pelvic morphology, age from bone development, ancestry from skull morphology, and stature from long bone lengths.

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

Entrance wounds are smaller because the bullet enters in a focused point; the abrasion collar forms as the bullet scrapes skin inward, while exit wounds are larger from tissue displacement.

BSFS - Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science Practice Test

BSFS - Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science Practice Test

BSFS Forensic Pathology and Anthropology