ABMDI SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE
UPDATED EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
●● Rigor Mortis
Answer: Stiffness of the body that sets in several hours after death
●● Rigor Mortis (Continued)
Answer: -Starts in the smaller muscles (jaw, extremities)
**First Indicator appears after 2-4 hours**
**Maximum Indicator is after 8-12 hours**
-Onset and Dissipation of rigor is rapid in children compared to adults
●● Livor Mortis
Answer: The pooling of the blood in tissues after death resulting in a
reddish color to the skin
●● Livor Mortis (Continued)
Answer: -Takes approximately 2-4 hours to develop
-As interval extends, the livor becomes fixed and will not blanch on
pressure
-Generally, livor is fixed after 8-12 hours after death
,●● Tardieu Spots
Answer: In advance stages of livor mortis, the skin capillaries often
rupture and cause pin point hemorrhages
●● Eye Changes after Death
Answer: -Clouding (occurring 1-2 hours)
-Sclera Dryness (TACHE NOIR)
●● Body Temperature
Answer: -Rate at which bodies cool is NOT uniform!!!
●● Algor Mortis
Answer: Cooling of the body after death
●● Decomposition Patterns
Answer: 24 hours: greenish discoloration of right, lower abdomen
24-36 hours: greenish discoloration of the abdomen
36-48 hours: marbling, bloating of the face
48-60 hours: desiccation (drying) of the fingertips
60-72 hours: bloating of the body (purging)
4-7 days: skin blebs, hair sloughing, skin slippage
, days-weeks: dehydration of the body tissues
weeks-months: adipocere, mummification, skeletonization
●● Inspect the Body (External: Head)
Answer: -Examine the scalp for hidden trauma!
-Lacerations may stick together; bullet wounds may be obscured
-Inspect ears for hemorrhage/foreign bodies
-Evaluate eyes for petechial hemorrhages, jaundice, or trauma
-Oral cavity may reveal trauma, foreign bodies, or evidence of poor
hygiene
-Nasal Septum may be perforated due to chronic cocaine abuse
●● Inspect the Body (External: Neck)
Answer: -Any identifiable trauma should be documented
-DO NOT recover specimens from neck veins of homicide victims (it
might create trauma)
-View the posterior neck as well!
-Examine the neck for evidence of enlarged lymph nodes, thyroid,
and/or other masses
-Palpate the neck with PASSIVE flexion and extension to reveal
fractures
●● Inspect the Body (External: Chest)
UPDATED EXAM QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS
●● Rigor Mortis
Answer: Stiffness of the body that sets in several hours after death
●● Rigor Mortis (Continued)
Answer: -Starts in the smaller muscles (jaw, extremities)
**First Indicator appears after 2-4 hours**
**Maximum Indicator is after 8-12 hours**
-Onset and Dissipation of rigor is rapid in children compared to adults
●● Livor Mortis
Answer: The pooling of the blood in tissues after death resulting in a
reddish color to the skin
●● Livor Mortis (Continued)
Answer: -Takes approximately 2-4 hours to develop
-As interval extends, the livor becomes fixed and will not blanch on
pressure
-Generally, livor is fixed after 8-12 hours after death
,●● Tardieu Spots
Answer: In advance stages of livor mortis, the skin capillaries often
rupture and cause pin point hemorrhages
●● Eye Changes after Death
Answer: -Clouding (occurring 1-2 hours)
-Sclera Dryness (TACHE NOIR)
●● Body Temperature
Answer: -Rate at which bodies cool is NOT uniform!!!
●● Algor Mortis
Answer: Cooling of the body after death
●● Decomposition Patterns
Answer: 24 hours: greenish discoloration of right, lower abdomen
24-36 hours: greenish discoloration of the abdomen
36-48 hours: marbling, bloating of the face
48-60 hours: desiccation (drying) of the fingertips
60-72 hours: bloating of the body (purging)
4-7 days: skin blebs, hair sloughing, skin slippage
, days-weeks: dehydration of the body tissues
weeks-months: adipocere, mummification, skeletonization
●● Inspect the Body (External: Head)
Answer: -Examine the scalp for hidden trauma!
-Lacerations may stick together; bullet wounds may be obscured
-Inspect ears for hemorrhage/foreign bodies
-Evaluate eyes for petechial hemorrhages, jaundice, or trauma
-Oral cavity may reveal trauma, foreign bodies, or evidence of poor
hygiene
-Nasal Septum may be perforated due to chronic cocaine abuse
●● Inspect the Body (External: Neck)
Answer: -Any identifiable trauma should be documented
-DO NOT recover specimens from neck veins of homicide victims (it
might create trauma)
-View the posterior neck as well!
-Examine the neck for evidence of enlarged lymph nodes, thyroid,
and/or other masses
-Palpate the neck with PASSIVE flexion and extension to reveal
fractures
●● Inspect the Body (External: Chest)
