CSI Forensic Death Investigation 4

Question 1

Which of the following best describes an 'incised wound' versus a 'laceration'?

Accepted Answer

Incised wounds are caused by sharp edges and have clean margins; lacerations are tears with irregular edges caused by blunt force

Answer

Incised wounds result from blunt force; lacerations from sharp objects

Answer

Incised wounds are always deeper than lacerations

Answer

Lacerations always involve bone damage while incised wounds do not

Question 2

What is the primary purpose of collecting vitreous humor during an autopsy?

Accepted Answer

To analyze chemistry values unaffected by post-mortem changes

Answer

To identify the victim's blood type

Answer

To determine the direction of a bullet trajectory

Answer

To detect foreign fibers from a murder weapon

Question 3

A body shows an entry wound with a 'muzzle contusion ring' and soot deposited deep in the wound track. What type of gunshot wound is this?

Accepted Answer

Hard contact wound

Answer

Intermediate range wound

Answer

Distant range wound

Answer

Loose contact wound

Question 4

When investigating a suspected drowning death, which autopsy finding provides the most specific evidence of ante-mortem submersion?

Accepted Answer

Presence of diatoms in bone marrow or organs

Answer

Frothy fluid in the airways

Answer

Waterlogged lungs (aqueous emphysema)

Answer

Washerwoman's skin maceration

Question 5

What does the forensic term 'mechanism of death' refer to?

Accepted Answer

The physiological derangement by which the cause of death produces the fatal outcome

Answer

The category (natural, accident, homicide, suicide) of the death

Answer

The sequence of events leading to the crime scene

Answer

The specific instrument or agent used to cause death

Question 6

Which finding at autopsy would support a diagnosis of fatal hypothermia?

Accepted Answer

Wischnewski spots on the gastric mucosa

Answer

Widespread internal hemorrhaging into organs

Answer

Lichtenberg figures on the skin

Answer

Soot deposits in the trachea

Question 7

In a forensic entomology analysis, the 'accumulated degree hours' (ADH) method is used for what purpose?

Accepted Answer

Estimating the PMI by accounting for temperature's effect on insect development

Answer

Classifying the species of insects present at a scene

Answer

Determining whether a body was moved post-mortem

Answer

Identifying geographic origin of insects found on remains