Bojana Vazic

Anatomy & Physiology

B. Burckart

Spring 2014

Anatomy & Forensics

Scientific method of gathering and examining information

Forensics is done to investigate crime scene investigations

Stems from the Latin “forensis” meaning “before the

forum” which in earlier times meant that a person was

tried before a group in the forum

Forensics offers a wide range of careers including art

forensics, computational forensics, criminalistics, digital

forensics, forensic anthropology, forensic serology, blood

splatter analysis, etc.

Forensic Science

Forensic science dates back thousands of years

Fingerprinting was one of the first applications of

forensics

Ancient Chinese used fingerprints to identify

business documents and clay sculptures

1835: Henry Goddard became the first person to

use physical analysis to connect a bullet to the

murder weapon

1892: Sir Francis Galton established the first

system for classifying fingerprints

1896: Sir Edward Henry developed his own

system based on the direction, flow, and pattern

that appeared in fingerprints

History

Sir Edward Henry

1

Henry Classification system became the worldwide standard for

criminal fingerprinting

1920s: Calvin Goddard created the comparison microscope

1930s: FBI founds its own forensic crime lab

1970s: scientists at the Aerospace Corporation developed a

method for detecting gunshot reside using electron microscopes

20th Century: tools became more modern and advanced & are

constantly improving

Today: forensics are the most important tool for law

enforcement and solution of crimes

History

Important to understand

anatomy and the classification

of the body

3 different types of autopsies

that can be performed:

Complete Autopsy:

examination of all body

cavities

Limited Autopsy: examines

most of the most, head is

most times excluded

Selective Autopsy: focus on

specific organs depending on

the investigation

Pathology Pathological investigations deal with

assessments of autopsies that are conducted

by the coroner

Assessments of the body post death can

discover the causes of death

“Anatomical Lesson” Rembrandt

2

Autopsies begin with a Y-shaped incision from both

shoulders, joining over the sternum, and continuing

down to the pubic bone

Skin is moved aside and then the ribcage is

removed to reveal the organs

Depending on the type of autopsy, each organ is

removed and examined

Incision is also made in the skull (ear to ear), and

then the skin is peeled back

The top of the skull is then carefully sawed off,

allowing the entire brain to be removed and

examined

Upon examination of the body, the coroner can then

determine the manner of the death (homicidal,

suicidal, accidental, natural, or undetermined)

Autopsy Procedure

Da Vinci’s anatomical sketch

3

Cadavers decompose faster in

damp conditions than in dry

ones

Core body temperature will be

taken right away using a rectal

thermometer or liver readings

Adipocere forms during the

decomposition process

Substance that is created from

fats, hydrogen, and water when

in contact with bacterial

enzymes

Body Decomposition Decomposition is the continual process where

dead organisms are broken down into simpler

substances

It is important to take note of temperature and

climatic zone of crime, so that proper time since

death can be determined

Adipocere on decomposing body

4

Stiffening of the muscles

Occurs due to loss of ATP and the

accumulation of salts in the muscle fiber

ATP allows energy to flow to muscles

It takes 12-18 hours for body to

completely stiffen

It lasts for about 2 days before the body

then begins to decay

Can be mechanically “broken” by

forcing muscle movement

Can be used to determine time since

death

Rigor Mortis

Cadavers with rigor mortis

5

6

Occurs when the blood stops circulating the body and falls to the lowest point

Due to blood settling within vessels; can shift if cadaver is moved

Blood will later hemolyze and diffuse; livor is then fixed and wont shift with movement

Can result in red and blue coloration of the skin

Usually develops 1-2 hours after death

Livor Mortis (Hypostasis)

Cadavers with livor mortis

7 8

Epidermis (outer, thinner region of skin)

Stratum Basale

Stratum Spinosum

Stratum Granulosum

Stratum Lucidum

Stratum Corneum

Dermis (deeper and thicker region, after the dermis)

Contains the dermal papillae (creates rough ridges,

which form fingerprints)

Allows for better grip

Contains collagen and elastin (helps maintain normal

skin tension)

Contains blood vessels

Hypodermis (subcutaneous tissue, lies below the

dermis)

Constructed of loos connective tissue & adipose

Adipose helps insulate body (makes it fuller and

thicker)

Skin Overview

Layers of Skin

9

Patterns and ridges are determined by the dermal papillae (dermis layer)

Ridges are shown as minutiae and are formed before birth

Each ridge contains a row of pores in which sweat is released

Ridges and the sweat release from fingerprints when finger come in contact with a

surface

Fingerprints are classified by loops, whorls, and arches

Loops: ridge line enters from one side of the pattern, curves around, and exists from same

side

Whorl: plain, central pocket whorl, double whorl, and accidental

Arches: ridge lines enters from one side of the pattern and exits on another side

Latent Prints (Fingerprints)

Rows of pores

Fingerprint types

10

11

Fingerprints can be visible, plastic, or latent Visible: when left in substances such as paint or blood (very visible)

Plastic: when left on soft surfaces (ex. Wet paint)

Latent: when left in bodily oils and need to be treated to be made visible

Treatment for latent prints depends on the type of surface that

they are left on

Common treatments include…

Aluminum powder: most common method for lifting prints; applied with

a brush, and the powder then adheres to the body oils and sweat from

the fingerprint making it visible

Magna Brush: magnetic-sensitive power application; the brush doesn't’t

contain bristles which wont damage the print

Ninhydrin: compound that reacts with the amino acids in the print to

change the color, allowing it to become visible

Iodine Fuming: iodine crystals that vaporize with heat. Impression

becomes visible but will fade as it cool, so glue must be applied to keep

the impression

Latent Prints (Fingerprints)

Aluminum Powder

12

Blood typing a from of categorizing blood

Classified by the ABO blood groups (A, B,

O, AB)

These groups are based on the presence of

certain antigens that are found in blood

cells

Blood grouping doesn't’t identify an

individual, but can narrow the search down

drastically

Rhesus antigens are also studied in the

blood typing system (85% of people carry

this antigen)

Chemical tests can be done to pin point a

perpetrator through DNA analysis

Blood Analysis

Blood Types

13

Chemical tests include…

Luminol: used in identifying bloodstains (especially if

there was an attempt to clean up and the blood may

not be visible to the naked eye). The presence of

blood will cause chemoiluminescence (emission of

light based on a chemical reaction). If blood is

present, it will appear in a greenish color.

Kastle-Meyer (phenolphthalein test): proposed stain

is collected on a cotton swab and treated with ethanol

and phenolphthalein. Peroxide is then added causing

traces of peroxidase in the blood to stain and become

visible

Leucomalachite Green: similar to the phenolphthalein

test, but the phenolphthalein is replaced with

leucomalachite, causing the traces of blood to turn

green

Hemastix: use of plastic strips (similar to urine test

strips). In the presence of blood, the strip will take on

a greenish color

Blood Analysis

Luminol

14

1. “The Fingerprint System." NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.

2.  "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp." - Museum Het Rembrandthuis. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2014

3. "Leonardo Da Vinci - The Complete Works." Leonardo Da Vinci - The Complete Works. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014

4. "CharonBoat.com – Showing Beyond: Accident - Accidental Drowning."CharonBoat.com – Showing Beyond: Accident - Accidental Drowning. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.

5. "Forensics Chapter - Postmortem Changes." Forensics Chapter - Postmortem Changes. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.

6. "Forensics Chapter - Postmortem Changes." Forensics Chapter - Postmortem Changes. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.

7. "Forensics Chapter - Postmortem Changes." Forensics Chapter - Postmortem Changes. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.

8. "Forensics Chapter - Postmortem Changes." Forensics Chapter - Postmortem Changes. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.

9. "The Skin (Human Anatomy): Picture, Definition, Function, and Skin Conditions."WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.

10. BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 30 May 2014.

11. "Fingerprint ID Module | AJA Solutions." Fingerprint ID Module | AJA Solutions. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 May 2014.

12. "Forensic Biology  »  Articles  »  Fingerprinting »  "Lifting Fingerprints with Powders and Chemicals"" Forensic

Biology  »  Articles  »  Fingerprinting »  "Lifting Fingerprints with Powders and Chemicals"N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Apr.

2014.

13. "All That Bloody Woo." Teen Skepchick. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 May 2014.

14. Harris, Tom. "How Luminol Works." HowStuffWorks. HowStuffWorks.com, 11 June 2002. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.

Photo Credits

"Forensic Psychology." Bloodstain Pattern Analysis. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.

"Forensic Resources." Forensic Resources. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 April 2014.

"Forensic Science Central." - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.

HowStuffWorks.com, 09 June 2008. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.

"The Role of the Coroner | Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine." Victorian

Institute of Forensic Medicine. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Apr. 2014.

Watson, Stephanie. "How Forensic Lab Techniques Work." HowStuffWorks.

Bibliography