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 (cuts) are made by a sharp instrument and have clean, well-defined edges, while lacerations result from blunt trauma and have ragged, irregular edges with tissue bridging.

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

Vitreous humor (the fluid in the eye) is isolated from systemic post-mortem changes, making it useful for measuring glucose, electrolytes (especially potassium for PMI estimation), and detecting certain drugs and alcohol.

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

A hard contact wound occurs when the muzzle is pressed firmly against the skin, forcing combustion gases and soot into the wound track, often creating a stellate (star-shaped) laceration and muzzle imprint.

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

Diatoms (microscopic algae) found in bone marrow or internal organs provide strong evidence of ante-mortem submersion because they enter the bloodstream via the lungs only during active breathing.

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 mechanism of death is the physiological process triggered by the cause of death that directly results in cessation of life (e.g., exsanguination is the mechanism; a stab wound is the cause).

(CSI) Crime Scene Investigator Practice Test

(CSI) Crime Scene Investigator Practice Test

CSI Forensic Death Investigation 4