Warm-UpSeptember 11, 2014

• How is forensic anthropology used to identify skeletal remains?

An inconsiderate slob dumped trash on Rachel Rabbit's lawn. One of these two suspects is guilty. Slylock Fox foundevidence that may identify the loathsome litterbug.

What did Slylock observe to help him identify the trash tosser?

Source: http://www.slylockfox.com/arcade/BrainBogglers/index.html

Slylock found bones in the trash.

The bull is an herbivore and only eats plants.

The raccoon is an omnivore and eats both plants and animals. The raccoon is the

trash tosser.

Objective

• SWBAT describe the various procedures used during an autopsy.

Agenda

1. Review No Bones About It2. Real CSI Video3. Death4. Autopsies 5. Exit Slip

No Bones About ItAt a nearby construction zone, workers have made a startlingdiscovery. They uncovered several bones that look like theywere buried some time ago. You are part of a team offorensic anthropologists who have been called in to

analyzethese bones.

Unfortunately, the bones were heavily damaged bythe construction equipment. The bones have all been mixedup, and several have been crushed. However, you think youcan use the bones that are left to:

1) determine how many people were buried at this locationand2) determine the heights of the different individuals.

Real CSI Forensic Pathology

1. What is the difference between a coroner and a medical examiner?

2. What are considered reportable deaths?

3. What is cause of death?

Death

• Death is the cessation, or end, of life.

Four Manners of Death• Natural Causes

– When the body ceases to function of its own accord or if there are mitigating medical factors such as terminal illness, heart disease or the like, which would bring about death

• Homicide:– The taking of one human life by another human being by means of

pre-meditated murder. The term pre-meditated means to have purposely planned and executed the murder of another human being in cold blood whilst trying to elude capture by the authorities.

• Accidental Death– The death of an individual by means other than natural death,

murder or suicide. Accidental death can sometimes be manslaughter - murder but committed out of an involuntary act of violence towards another.

• Suicide– The deliberate taking of one's own life due to extreme emotional

distress often brought about by severe depression.

Cause vs. Manner vs. Mechanism

• Cause of Death– Immediate reason for a person’s death

• Manner of Death– A mean by which someone dies

• Mechanism of Death– The specific body failure that leads to the

death

Livor, Rigor & Algor Mortis

• Livor mortis -the pooling of the blood in tissues after death, causing changes in the skin’s color

• Rigor mortis-the stiffening of the skeletal muscles after death

• Algor mortis -the cooling of the body after death

Livor Mortis

• Heart stops beating which had been mixing blood

• Red blood cells are denser so they sink

• Maroon to blue color develops at lowest points

• Visible 30 minutes - 12 hours after death

• Tells you if the body was moved.

Livor Mortis

• Pressure prevents pooling

Livor Mortis

Rigor Mortis

Rigor Mortis

• Skeletal muscles partially contract• Joints stiffen, lock in place• Beginning about 2 hours after death• Lasting about 30 hours

Algor Mortis

• Rate of cooling of body after death– 1.5 °F per hour under “normal conditions”

• 0.78 Degrees Celsius

Algor Mortis

• Clothing – Insulates body from heat loss

• Obesity– Fat insulates, temperature falls more

slowly• Ratio of surface area to volume– Children, thin people cool faster

• In water?– Cooling is faster since water is a better

conductor of heat than air

**37° C is normal body temperature**• A man is found on the side of the

road. His body temperature is 32° C. How long has this man been dead?

• A woman is found dead. Her body temperature is 25° C. How long has this woman been dead?

Decomposition of a Corpse

• Initial decay -corpse appears normal on the outside but starts to decompose internally via autolysis

• Putrefaction-Odor of decaying flesh is present and the corpse appears swollen

• Black putrefaction-Very strong odor and parts of the flesh appear black. Gases escape and the corpse collapses.

• Butyric Fermentation-Corpse begins to dry out and most flesh is gone.

• Dry decay -Corpse is almost dry and further decay is very slow from lack of moisture.

Steps in an Autopsy1. Record basic statistics of victim2. Record external observations3. Recover and store trace evidences 4. Extract blood and urine sample5. Perform Y incision6. Remove breast plate7. Remove, examine and weigh major organs8. Examine skull and brain9. Return bodily contents and stitch up skull

and body chest.

Exit SlipSeptember 11, 2014

• Go to m.socrative.com and complete

the exit slip (Room 417101)• Answer the question belowQUESTION: How long has a victim been dead, if she was found with a body temperature of 24 degrees Celsius?