ASM 275 EXAM TEST PAPER 2025/2026 QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔cause of death - ✔✔the immediate reason for a person's death (such as heart
attack, kidney failure, gunshot wound)
✔✔manner of death - ✔✔How death occurred; 5 possibilities
- natural
-accidental
-suicide
-homicide
-undetermined
✔✔sequence of events involved in recovery - ✔✔location of
remains, search for associated materials, mapping, collecting, and excavating
✔✔disturbed vegetation - ✔✔plants surrounding body are dead, not aligned with
surrounding plants, no plants at all, etc.
✔✔soil compactions - ✔✔grave pit depression, secondary depression, damaged
vegetation, cracks and slopping
✔✔secondary depression - ✔✔-represents abdominal cavity collapsing
-shallow graves only -24-36 inches deep
-shallower grave= more pronounced secondary depression, but less pronounced
primary depression.
✔✔disturbed soil - ✔✔-if stratification is significant and distinct soil will result in molting
-incorporation of plants remains into matrix
✔✔provenience - ✔✔location of items in 3d in reference to a fixed reference point
✔✔profile map - ✔✔map displaying the elevation
✔✔plan view map - ✔✔horizontal display of 2D data on the map, or a horizontal cross-
section of 3D data
✔✔datum - ✔✔A horizontal plane from which heights and depths are measured.
-provides reference point
✔✔forensic taphonomy - ✔✔studies what happens to the body from the time of death
through discovery ; study of burial
, ✔✔-forensic entomology - ✔✔The study of insects to determine such matters as a
person's time of death.
blow flies (appear first) and beetles (appear AFTER flies) are studied
✔✔putrefaction - ✔✔consumption of the body by endogenous bacteria - decomposition
of proteins by the action of enzymes from anaerobic bacteria
✔✔autolysis - ✔✔results from cell death and action of enzymes that work against the
cell and destroy it
✔✔rigor mortis - ✔✔chemical binding of muscles fibers, muscles lock in place
1-2hrs- apparent; 12hrs- complete stiffness; 24-48hrs- releases.
✔✔algor mortis - ✔✔body temperature drops following death.
2 deg. C- 1hr; 2 deg. C for every hour after that until ambient room temperature is
reached.
✔✔livor mortis - ✔✔discoloration of body due to setting of blood and other bodily fluids.
1-2hrs-apparent; 3-4hrs- well developed; 8-12hrs- fixed due to coagulation
✔✔bone weathering - ✔✔A bone left lying outside will eventually disintegrate
-determine the age of younger bones by studying the state of decomposition of the
body, and the types of insects swarming the scene
✔✔Clavicle - ✔✔
✔✔Scapula - ✔✔
✔✔Sternum - ✔✔
✔✔Ribs - ✔✔
✔✔Humerus - ✔✔
✔✔Radius - ✔✔
✔✔Ulna - ✔✔
✔✔Carpals - ✔✔
✔✔Metacarpals - ✔✔
✔✔Phalanges - ✔✔
WITH SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔cause of death - ✔✔the immediate reason for a person's death (such as heart
attack, kidney failure, gunshot wound)
✔✔manner of death - ✔✔How death occurred; 5 possibilities
- natural
-accidental
-suicide
-homicide
-undetermined
✔✔sequence of events involved in recovery - ✔✔location of
remains, search for associated materials, mapping, collecting, and excavating
✔✔disturbed vegetation - ✔✔plants surrounding body are dead, not aligned with
surrounding plants, no plants at all, etc.
✔✔soil compactions - ✔✔grave pit depression, secondary depression, damaged
vegetation, cracks and slopping
✔✔secondary depression - ✔✔-represents abdominal cavity collapsing
-shallow graves only -24-36 inches deep
-shallower grave= more pronounced secondary depression, but less pronounced
primary depression.
✔✔disturbed soil - ✔✔-if stratification is significant and distinct soil will result in molting
-incorporation of plants remains into matrix
✔✔provenience - ✔✔location of items in 3d in reference to a fixed reference point
✔✔profile map - ✔✔map displaying the elevation
✔✔plan view map - ✔✔horizontal display of 2D data on the map, or a horizontal cross-
section of 3D data
✔✔datum - ✔✔A horizontal plane from which heights and depths are measured.
-provides reference point
✔✔forensic taphonomy - ✔✔studies what happens to the body from the time of death
through discovery ; study of burial
, ✔✔-forensic entomology - ✔✔The study of insects to determine such matters as a
person's time of death.
blow flies (appear first) and beetles (appear AFTER flies) are studied
✔✔putrefaction - ✔✔consumption of the body by endogenous bacteria - decomposition
of proteins by the action of enzymes from anaerobic bacteria
✔✔autolysis - ✔✔results from cell death and action of enzymes that work against the
cell and destroy it
✔✔rigor mortis - ✔✔chemical binding of muscles fibers, muscles lock in place
1-2hrs- apparent; 12hrs- complete stiffness; 24-48hrs- releases.
✔✔algor mortis - ✔✔body temperature drops following death.
2 deg. C- 1hr; 2 deg. C for every hour after that until ambient room temperature is
reached.
✔✔livor mortis - ✔✔discoloration of body due to setting of blood and other bodily fluids.
1-2hrs-apparent; 3-4hrs- well developed; 8-12hrs- fixed due to coagulation
✔✔bone weathering - ✔✔A bone left lying outside will eventually disintegrate
-determine the age of younger bones by studying the state of decomposition of the
body, and the types of insects swarming the scene
✔✔Clavicle - ✔✔
✔✔Scapula - ✔✔
✔✔Sternum - ✔✔
✔✔Ribs - ✔✔
✔✔Humerus - ✔✔
✔✔Radius - ✔✔
✔✔Ulna - ✔✔
✔✔Carpals - ✔✔
✔✔Metacarpals - ✔✔
✔✔Phalanges - ✔✔
