Anatomy of an autopsy
What is a postmortem evaluation to determine cause of death?
Autopsy
The stiffening of joints and muscles after death
Rigor mortis
What is the organ system that breaks down food to extract energy and nutrients and then evacuates remaining waste
digestive system
What is a group of organs that work together to perform one or more functions?
Organ system
The transport system of the body is responsible for carrying oxygen and nutrients to the body and carrying away carbon dioxide and other wastes; composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood
Cardiovascular system
What is a place where the bodies of dead persons are kept temporarily pending identification or release for burial or autopsy?
Morgue
The change in body temperature after death
algor mortis
What is the field of science that studies the effects of chemicals, such as drugs, alcohol, poisons, metals, and gases on the human body?
Toxicology
What is the study of the microscopic anatomy of tissues
Histiology
The largest artery in the body, it carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle of the heart to the rest of the body
Aorta
The specific injury, trauma, or disease that directly caused the victims death
Cause of death
Pooling of the body following death that causes a purplish red discoloration of the skin; also referred to as lividity
livor mortis
What feild focuses on identifying the role any substances may have played in an illness or death?
Forensic toxicology
A brain dysfunction caused by an outside force on the head
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
A body structure that temporarily closes a passage or orifice, or permits movement of fluid in only one direction
Valve
What happens physiologically (inside the body) to result in death
Mechanism of death
The time the medical examiner estimates that the death occurred
estimated time of death
What is it called when your body uses acid and enzymes to break down foods into smaller molecules?
Chemical digestion
A progressive degeneration, and/or death, of nerve cells caused by repeated head injuries, such as repeated concussions
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Part of the circulatory system in which deoxygenated blood moves from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs (through the arteries) to become oxygenated and then returns to the left side of the heart (through veins)
pulmonary circulation
The circumstances that result in death, which are designated as natural or unnatural
Manner of death
The time when the decedent´s vital functions actually ceased
Physiological time of death
What is a quick test that indicates if a type of substance is present but cannot be specifically identify a substance?
Presumptive tests
A medical imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to take pictures of the soft tissues of the body
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
The series of vessels that bring oxygenated blood from the heart to tissues and return deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart.
Systematic circulation