Forensic Science, Stages of death Review Questions with Verified Solutions Latest Update 2024
Stage 1 (process of death) - Answers Livor Mortis
Stage 2 (Process of Death) - Answers Rigor Mortis
Stage 3 (Process of Death) - Answers Algor Mortis
Stage 4 (Process of Death) - Answers Stomach & Eyes
Stage 5 (Process of Death) - Answers Decomposition
Stage 6 (Process of Death) - Answers Insects
Livor Mortis - Answers Pooling of blood
Rigor Mortis - Answers Stiffness of body
Algor Mortis - Answers Temperature of body (Cooling of body)
Stages of Decomposition (Name the 4 stages) - Answers Stage 1: Autolysis (Self Disgestion)
Stage 2: Bloating
Stage 3: Active Decay
Stage 4: Skeletonization (all tissue disappears)
Stage 1 of Decomposition: Autolysis (Process) - Answers -It happens immediately after death.
- Due to respiration stopping, the body has no way to remove waste or take in oxygen
-Excess CO2 leads to acid environment, to which membranes in cells to rupture
-Membranes begin to release enzymes that eat the cells from the inside-out
Stage 2 of Decomposition: Bloat (Process) - Answers -Enzymes from Stage 1 begin to produce and
release gases, causing the body to double in size
-Sulfur-containing compounds from bacteria lead to skin discoloration
-Insect activity typically begins here
Stage 3 of Decomposition: Active Decay (Process) - Answers -Organs, skin, and muscle (and all other soft
tissue) become liquefied
-Hair, bones, and cartilage remain
Stage 4 of Decomposition: Skeletonization (Process) - Answers -Once all tissue and remains disappear
and break down, exposing the skeleton
, Insects - Answers - Entomology( The study of insects in a criminal investigation)
-Help estimate the postmortem index.
-Help identify any change in the corpse
-Help identify and lead to the cause of death
Stages of Insects (Name the 6 stages) - Answers Stage 1: Eggs
Stage 2: Larva (stage 1)
Stage 3: Larva (stage 2)
Stage 4: Larva (stage 3)
Stage 5: Pupa
Stage 6: Adult
First stage in timeline (insects). What happens? - Answers Initial decay.
3 to 5 days after death: Blowflies Begin To lay Eggs (about 8 hours after death).
Second stage in timeline (insects). What happens? - Answers Putrefaction.
4 to 10 days after death: young maggots begin to move through the body, speeding up the decay
process.
Third stage in timeline (insects). What happens? - Answers Black putrefaction.
10 to 20 days after death: several generations of insects are present. Beetles and other forms of insects
begin to lay their eggs in the corpse. The larvae hatch and begin to feed on the decaying flesh.
Fourth stage in timeline (insects). What happens? - Answers Fermentation
20 to 50 days after death: Insects are feeding on the flesh and are increasing in numbers.
Fifth stage in timeline (insects). What happens? - Answers Dry Decay
50 to 365 days after death: mites are feeding on the microorganisms of the body
How long has the body been dead if some eggs and some larva are found? - Answers About 24 hours (or
about 1 day.) This is because eggs are laid minutes after death and it takes about 24 hours for them to
reach their first stage of becoming larva.
How long has the body been dead if some adult insects and some pupae are found? - Answers About
288-432 hours (or 12-18 days.)
Stage 1 (process of death) - Answers Livor Mortis
Stage 2 (Process of Death) - Answers Rigor Mortis
Stage 3 (Process of Death) - Answers Algor Mortis
Stage 4 (Process of Death) - Answers Stomach & Eyes
Stage 5 (Process of Death) - Answers Decomposition
Stage 6 (Process of Death) - Answers Insects
Livor Mortis - Answers Pooling of blood
Rigor Mortis - Answers Stiffness of body
Algor Mortis - Answers Temperature of body (Cooling of body)
Stages of Decomposition (Name the 4 stages) - Answers Stage 1: Autolysis (Self Disgestion)
Stage 2: Bloating
Stage 3: Active Decay
Stage 4: Skeletonization (all tissue disappears)
Stage 1 of Decomposition: Autolysis (Process) - Answers -It happens immediately after death.
- Due to respiration stopping, the body has no way to remove waste or take in oxygen
-Excess CO2 leads to acid environment, to which membranes in cells to rupture
-Membranes begin to release enzymes that eat the cells from the inside-out
Stage 2 of Decomposition: Bloat (Process) - Answers -Enzymes from Stage 1 begin to produce and
release gases, causing the body to double in size
-Sulfur-containing compounds from bacteria lead to skin discoloration
-Insect activity typically begins here
Stage 3 of Decomposition: Active Decay (Process) - Answers -Organs, skin, and muscle (and all other soft
tissue) become liquefied
-Hair, bones, and cartilage remain
Stage 4 of Decomposition: Skeletonization (Process) - Answers -Once all tissue and remains disappear
and break down, exposing the skeleton
, Insects - Answers - Entomology( The study of insects in a criminal investigation)
-Help estimate the postmortem index.
-Help identify any change in the corpse
-Help identify and lead to the cause of death
Stages of Insects (Name the 6 stages) - Answers Stage 1: Eggs
Stage 2: Larva (stage 1)
Stage 3: Larva (stage 2)
Stage 4: Larva (stage 3)
Stage 5: Pupa
Stage 6: Adult
First stage in timeline (insects). What happens? - Answers Initial decay.
3 to 5 days after death: Blowflies Begin To lay Eggs (about 8 hours after death).
Second stage in timeline (insects). What happens? - Answers Putrefaction.
4 to 10 days after death: young maggots begin to move through the body, speeding up the decay
process.
Third stage in timeline (insects). What happens? - Answers Black putrefaction.
10 to 20 days after death: several generations of insects are present. Beetles and other forms of insects
begin to lay their eggs in the corpse. The larvae hatch and begin to feed on the decaying flesh.
Fourth stage in timeline (insects). What happens? - Answers Fermentation
20 to 50 days after death: Insects are feeding on the flesh and are increasing in numbers.
Fifth stage in timeline (insects). What happens? - Answers Dry Decay
50 to 365 days after death: mites are feeding on the microorganisms of the body
How long has the body been dead if some eggs and some larva are found? - Answers About 24 hours (or
about 1 day.) This is because eggs are laid minutes after death and it takes about 24 hours for them to
reach their first stage of becoming larva.
How long has the body been dead if some adult insects and some pupae are found? - Answers About
288-432 hours (or 12-18 days.)
