ABMDI STUDY SHEET Questions with Correct Answers (Grade
A+)
Question 1: What are 5 different ways you can describe the level or extent of rigor mortis?
Answer:
1. Absent
2. Minimal
3. Moderate
4. Advanced
5. Complete
Question 2: What are 3 categories of descriptors that can be used to describe livor mortis?
Answer: Coloration: Pink - Purple discoloration Location on the body State of fixation: Fixed or Unfixed /
Blanchable
Question 3: How should physical assessments of bodies occur.
Answer: Starting from the head and working your way down, noting obvious trauma and trace evidence.
Question 4: What considerations should be made when turning over a body during physical
assessment?
Answer: Ensure the body is turned over onto a clean white sheet to mitigate the loss of any possible trace
evidence. Continue assessment of the posterior as was done to the anterior.
Question 5: What can be done to preserve physical evidence on hands or feet?
Answer: A paper bag can be placed on the hands and feet after photographing.
Question 6: What considerations should be made prior to handling evidence?
Answer: Do not handle evidence before obtaining fingerprints unless given permission by the investigating
officer in charge.
Question 7: What considerations should be made with personal property?
Answer: Recognize, document and collect all items attached to the body.
Question 8: What do bruises on the decedent's body indicate?
Answer: Bruises on the body usually indicate that the person was alive at the time of injury
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, Question 9: What are 4 types of searches at a scene?
Answer:
1. Spiral (circular search pattern)
2. Radial (spoke-like search pattern)
3. Strip (linear search pattern)
4. Grid (cross linear search pattern)
Question 10: What are 2 basic measurement techniques for scene examinations?
Answer: Coordinate method (uses a fixed point to measure distance from) Triangulation method (uses 2
fixed points to measure distance from)
Question 11: Why may a tox draw be necessary at the scene?
Answer: Some drugs and poisons may deteriorate or metabolize during the post mortem interval.
Question 12: What kinds of toxicology can be drawn from the scene?
Answer:
1. Urine
2. Peripheral blood
3. Vitreous fluid
Question 13: What are the procedures for drawing urine at a scene?
Answer: Urine may be recovered when bladder remains distended: - Locate pubic bone in the midline of the
lower abdomen - Puncture skin approx 2 to 3 inches (toward the head) from the pubic bone in the midline of
the abdomen - Advance needle at 45 degree angle - When bladder is punctured, urine will rapidly fill the
syringe
Question 14: What sites can be used to draw peripheral blood?
Answer: Subclavian Femoral
Question 15: What are the procedures for drawing subclavian peripheral blood at a scene?
Answer: The subclavian site is the easiest to obtain peripheral blood from. Locate subclavian vein (runs just
below the clavicle). Insert needle under the clavicle at a 30 degree angle, aspirating gently until blood fills
the syringe.
Question 16: What are the procedures for drawing vitreous fluid at a scene?
Answer: Obtained by puncturing the sclera 2.5 to 4.0 ml of fluid is drawn from each adult eye. (0.5 to 1.0 ml
from children)
Page 2
A+)
Question 1: What are 5 different ways you can describe the level or extent of rigor mortis?
Answer:
1. Absent
2. Minimal
3. Moderate
4. Advanced
5. Complete
Question 2: What are 3 categories of descriptors that can be used to describe livor mortis?
Answer: Coloration: Pink - Purple discoloration Location on the body State of fixation: Fixed or Unfixed /
Blanchable
Question 3: How should physical assessments of bodies occur.
Answer: Starting from the head and working your way down, noting obvious trauma and trace evidence.
Question 4: What considerations should be made when turning over a body during physical
assessment?
Answer: Ensure the body is turned over onto a clean white sheet to mitigate the loss of any possible trace
evidence. Continue assessment of the posterior as was done to the anterior.
Question 5: What can be done to preserve physical evidence on hands or feet?
Answer: A paper bag can be placed on the hands and feet after photographing.
Question 6: What considerations should be made prior to handling evidence?
Answer: Do not handle evidence before obtaining fingerprints unless given permission by the investigating
officer in charge.
Question 7: What considerations should be made with personal property?
Answer: Recognize, document and collect all items attached to the body.
Question 8: What do bruises on the decedent's body indicate?
Answer: Bruises on the body usually indicate that the person was alive at the time of injury
Page 1
, Question 9: What are 4 types of searches at a scene?
Answer:
1. Spiral (circular search pattern)
2. Radial (spoke-like search pattern)
3. Strip (linear search pattern)
4. Grid (cross linear search pattern)
Question 10: What are 2 basic measurement techniques for scene examinations?
Answer: Coordinate method (uses a fixed point to measure distance from) Triangulation method (uses 2
fixed points to measure distance from)
Question 11: Why may a tox draw be necessary at the scene?
Answer: Some drugs and poisons may deteriorate or metabolize during the post mortem interval.
Question 12: What kinds of toxicology can be drawn from the scene?
Answer:
1. Urine
2. Peripheral blood
3. Vitreous fluid
Question 13: What are the procedures for drawing urine at a scene?
Answer: Urine may be recovered when bladder remains distended: - Locate pubic bone in the midline of the
lower abdomen - Puncture skin approx 2 to 3 inches (toward the head) from the pubic bone in the midline of
the abdomen - Advance needle at 45 degree angle - When bladder is punctured, urine will rapidly fill the
syringe
Question 14: What sites can be used to draw peripheral blood?
Answer: Subclavian Femoral
Question 15: What are the procedures for drawing subclavian peripheral blood at a scene?
Answer: The subclavian site is the easiest to obtain peripheral blood from. Locate subclavian vein (runs just
below the clavicle). Insert needle under the clavicle at a 30 degree angle, aspirating gently until blood fills
the syringe.
Question 16: What are the procedures for drawing vitreous fluid at a scene?
Answer: Obtained by puncturing the sclera 2.5 to 4.0 ml of fluid is drawn from each adult eye. (0.5 to 1.0 ml
from children)
Page 2
