FIS 201 – Bloodstain Patterns and Analysis Study Guide
Using the formal definition, what does the image below depict? - ANS✔✔ Bloodstain Pattern
For a quantity of blood in the air, [A] created by the mutual attraction of blood cells holds the
blood together. [B] resists flow, causing the blood to slosh slowly rather than run. Once it strikes
a surface, these two forces are balanced by the [C] imparted by the speed of travel at impact. -
ANS✔✔ [A]=[surface tension]
[B]=[viscosity]
[C]=[kinetic energy]
Place the four stages of blood drop collapse in order. - ANS✔✔ 1. Contact
2. Displacement
3. Dispersion
4. Retraction
Observe the image below. What phase of impact is depicted? (Hint: Look carefully and evaluate
for spines. vs. dimples) - ANS✔✔ Dispersion
When analyzing bloodstains, analysts first determine the [A] by examining the narrow end of
elongated blood stains, and the [B] by evaluating the relationship between the length and width
of an individual stain. The [C] is then determined by noting where the paths of travel of several
blood stains converge. Finally, by integrating impact and travel information, the [D] can be
located in three dimensional space. - ANS✔✔ [A]=[direction of travel]
[B]=[angle of impact]
[C]=[area of convergence]
[D]=[area of origin]
Using the formal definition, what does the image below depict? - ANS✔✔ Bloodstain Pattern
For a quantity of blood in the air, [A] created by the mutual attraction of blood cells holds the
blood together. [B] resists flow, causing the blood to slosh slowly rather than run. Once it strikes
a surface, these two forces are balanced by the [C] imparted by the speed of travel at impact. -
ANS✔✔ [A]=[surface tension]
[B]=[viscosity]
[C]=[kinetic energy]
Place the four stages of blood drop collapse in order. - ANS✔✔ 1. Contact
2. Displacement
3. Dispersion
4. Retraction
Observe the image below. What phase of impact is depicted? (Hint: Look carefully and evaluate
for spines. vs. dimples) - ANS✔✔ Dispersion
When analyzing bloodstains, analysts first determine the [A] by examining the narrow end of
elongated blood stains, and the [B] by evaluating the relationship between the length and width
of an individual stain. The [C] is then determined by noting where the paths of travel of several
blood stains converge. Finally, by integrating impact and travel information, the [D] can be
located in three dimensional space. - ANS✔✔ [A]=[direction of travel]
[B]=[angle of impact]
[C]=[area of convergence]
[D]=[area of origin]
