Review For Midterm Exam

Midterm Exam Review (Spring 2019)
Forensic Science 2217 (FORS-2217)
1) What is the “broad” definition of forensic science?

Application of science to matters of law
2) What is the “specific” definition of forensic science?
Application of science to matters of criminal and civil law that are enforced by police agencies
within a criminal justice system
3) Break down the phrase “forensic science” and describe the meaning of each individual word. What is
the meaning of the term “forensic” in a modern context, as compared to the original Latin meaning?
Forensic science means applying scientific methods to solving crimes. “Forensic” means public
discussion or debate. In the modern context, “forensic” applies to the courts or the judicial system.
4) What are the two (2) major duties of a forensic scientist?
1. Perform scientific analysis of evidence 2. Provide expert testimony
5) Name three (3) additional duties that a forensic scientist may be asked to perform.
1. Provide training to new forensic scientists, police, or legal community 2. Conduct research on
new techniques 3. Conduct validation studies on new methods
6) Why is forensic science technically referred to as a historical science?
Forensics is a historical science because the events in question have already occurred and are in
the past.
7) In reference to question #6, what is proxy data?
Remnants of a crime that are left behind.
8) Who is Edmond Locard? What is “Locard’s Exchange Principle?”
Locard established a principle in a 1912 murder case. The principle was that every contact leaves
a trace.
9) Discuss/describe the Emile Gourbin case as it exemplifies Locard’s Exchange Principle
Gourbin was accused of murdering his mistress. He had a solid alibi, but scrapings from under his
fingernails matched to his mistress’ pink face powder.
10) Who is the “Father of Criminalistics” and what were his famous observations about physical evidence?
Dr. Paul Kirk. He said that physical evidence cannot be wrong, and it cannot be truly absent.
11) What is criminalistics? Define.
Criminalistics is the discipline that operates under forensic science. It deals with the recognition,
collection, identification, individualization, and interpretation of physical evidence.
12) What is the scientific method? What six (6) steps are involved in this approach?
The scientific method is a process by which scientists use to solve a problem. The steps are make
observations, formulate hypothesis, carry out experiments, collect data, analyze data, and draw
conclusions.
13) Define hypothesis. Describe/discuss the two competing hypotheses in criminal investigations.
A hypothesis is an educated guess. The two competing hypotheses are the prosecutor’s hypothesis
and the defenses hypothesis. The prosecutor hypothesis is that the defendant committed the crime.
The defendants hypothesis is that the defendant didn’t commit the crime.
14) What is the direct translation of the latin phrase corpus delicti? Discuss in detail what it really means in
terms of criminal investigations and prosecution (as opposed to how it has been misinterpreted)
The direct translation is “No body, no crime”. Criminals take it literally and think that if they
don’t leave a body, then there is no case. But the saying really means that there must be sufficient
evidence.
15) Name and discuss two famous cases that exemplify misinterpretation of the concept of corpus delicti.
The first case is the Acid Bath murders. He destroyed the bodies of his victims in sulphuric acid.
He thought that if no one could find the bodies, then he couldn’t be proven guilty. The second case
is the Woodchipper murder. A man killed his wife and then put her dead body through a
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woodchipper. He deposited the body in a lake. A full body couldn’t be found, but bits and pieces
were.
16) What is the PCAST report? What does the acronym stand for? What was the purpose of PCAST?
The PCAST is a report about what areas of forensic science need to be strengthened. The acronym
stands for the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The purpose was to
bring to attention the gaps of comparison methods.
17) How does the PCAST report define “feature comparison” methods?
This refers to the variety of methods that aim to determine whether a sample from a scene is or
isn’t associated with a sample from a suspect.
18) The PCAST report recommended that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) take a
leadership role in transforming three subjective “feature comparison” methods into objective
methodologies. What three “feature comparison” methods are they referring to?
Latent fingerprint analysis, firearms analysis, and DNA analysis of complex mixtures.
19) Distinguish between confirmation bias and contextual bias. Be able to define each type of bias and
recognize an example of each.
Confirmation bias is when examiners alter features of an object they are analyzing to match an
exemplar. This happens when the examiner looks at the exemplar first. Contextual bias is when
examiners are influenced by the information of the case.
20) What is cognitive bias? What strategies can be used to mitigate cognitive bias in forensic casework?
Cognitive bias is when a person’s judgment is affected by information that isn’t relevant to the
case. Some strategies are reducing what scientists hear about the case and making sure the
scientists document their findings before doing comparisons.
21) Name three forensic specialties that are projected to experience “high growth” over the next decade or
so. Discuss the reasons for this growth pattern.
The three specialties are DNA analysis, drug analysis, and digital forensics. The reason for this
growth is that new technology has allowed for DNA to be taken from smaller samples, there is an
expected increase in drug usage, and the digital world is growing.
22) Be able to discuss/identify “low growth” areas of forensic specialty (and associated reasons).
The areas are firearms, ballistics, trace, latent prints, and questioned documents. The reason for
this is that there is an increase in automation, so there isn’t as much of a need for scientists to
compare them.
23) What is AFIS? What is IBIS?
AFIS is the Automated Fingerprint Identification System. IBIS is the Integrated Ballistic
Identification System.
24) Define class evidence and individual evidence. Be able to provide examples of each type of evidence.
Class evidence can be associated with a group but cannot narrow down the possibilities to a single
source. Individual evidence can narrow down to a single source. Class is blood type. Individual is
DNA or fingerprints.
25) What was the first genetic tool used for distinguishing between individuals (first type of genetic
evidence used in criminal courts)?
ABO blood groups.
26) Be familiar with the O.J. Simpson case and how it exemplified that sometimes class evidence can
strongly implicate a suspect. (*Remember the discussion about class evidence with rare characteristics)
O. J. Simpson had a specific type of blood that wasn’t common in the general population. This was
found at a crime scene. Although this evidence doesn’t say that he 100% committed the crime, it is
very probably because of how low of a percentage that someone else would have that blood type.
27) What two qualities of expert witness testimony are crucial in criminal justice?
Quality and clarity.
28) What is the CSI effect?
This is when jurors think that real court cases are just like the ones on TV. This makes the juries
expectations of the evidence super high, and some prosecutors think that makes it hard for them
to win cases.
29) What is the “broad” definition of forensic evidence?
Any evidence based on science, technique, or expert evaluation that’s entered into evidence at
trial.
30) What is the “specific” definition of forensic evidence?

Evidence collected from a crime scene that is analyzed using scientific methods and presented in
court to help establish guilt or innocence.
31) Define and compare/contrast: circumstantial evidence, direct evidence
Circumstantial evidence is evidence that relies on inference to connect it to conclusion of fact.
Direct evidence is evidence that directly supports the innocence or guilt of someone without the
need for any additional evidence.
32) What is conclusive evidence?
This is evidence that is so strong that is overbears any other evidence of the contrary.
33) What is exculpatory evidence?
This is evidence that tends to establish a criminal defendant’s innocence.
34) What is prima facie evidence?
This is evidence that will establish a fact or sustain a judgment unless contradictory evidence is
produced.
35) If evidence is referred to as “tainted,” what does this mean under criminal law?
This is evidence that isn’t able to be used in court because it was obtained by illegal means.
36) Discuss the evidentiary standards and burdens of proof in criminal vs. civil (non-criminal) trials.
In criminal cases, the prosecution has to put forth evidence that will convict someone. In civil
cases, the persecution has to persuade people of the defendant’s wrongdoings.
37) What are the two standards of finding guilt in civil (non-criminal) trials? Which one is the higher
standard?
The standards are that the attorney has to convince the jury that there is greater than a 50%
chance the claim is true, and the attorney has to convince the jury that the claim is way truer than
not true. The second part (clear and convincing evidence) is a higher standard.
38) Under the preponderance of evidence standard, explain when the burden of proof is met (legally).
The burden of proof is met when the jury is convinced more than 50%.
39) Under the clear and convincing evidence standard, explain when the burden of proof is met (legally).
It is met when the jury is substantially convinced.
40) What is the standard of finding guilt in a criminal trial? Is this standard higher or lower than the
standards required for civil (non-criminal) cases?
The standard is proof “beyond a reasonable doubt”. This standard is much higher than the
standard for civil trials.
41) What is the white coat effect?
This is when evidence presented by an expert witness sways the jury, not because of the evidence,
but because of the standing of the witness.
42) The rules of admissibility for scientific evidence provide a framework to help preserve the integrity of
evidence presented in court. In general, evidence is admissible if it is relevant. Relevant evidence should
be both material and probative. What do these two terms mean?
Material means that the evidence applies to the matter dealing with the case at hand and not some
other case. Probative means that the evidence tends to make a fact more or less probable than if
the evidence were absent.
43) Name the two (2) landmark court cases that provide standards for the admissibility of scientific
evidence. During what year were each of these landmark decisions made?
Frye was in 1923. Daubert was in 1993.
44) Be able to discuss a general synopsis of the James Frye case. How is the “Frye Standard” defined?
The Frye Standard is that before new techniques can be introduced in court, the principle that
governs it must have achieved “general acceptance” within the scientific field.
45) What are the Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE)? When were they developed?
These rules govern the intro of evidence at criminal and civil trials. They were developed in 1975.
46) The Federal Rules of Evidence (FRE) addressed specific criteria regarding the admissibility of evidence
in federal courts: relevance, prejudice, chain of custody, and expert witnesses. In general, what do the
FREs say about these four criteria?
Relevance is that the evidence must be relevant to the issue at trial. Prejudice is that anything that
is prejudicial is not allowed as evidence. Chain of custody is to ensure the integrity of the evidence.
Expert witness is qualified by education, skill, training, etc.
47) Expert witness testimony is governed by which three (3) FREs?
Rules 702, 703, and 705.
48) What is Federal Rule of Evidence (FRE) Rule 702 and its conditions?
An expert witness may give an opinion if the expert’s knowledge will help the trier understand the
evidence, the testimony is based on fact, the testimony is the product of reliable principles, and the
expert has reliably applied the principles.
An expert may make an opinion as long as it is based on facts that the expert has observed or been
made aware of.
An expert may give an opinion without first testifying the facts, but may have to disclose the facts
during cross examination.
51) Be able to discuss a general synopsis of the Daubert case. How is the “Daubert Standard” defined?
Ruled that general acceptance shouldn’t be the only criteria for determining the admissibility of
evidence. Reasoning for testimony must be scientifically valid. Requires a preliminary ruling on
whether theory is scientifically valid.
52) Compare and contrast the Frye Standard and the Daubert Standard. Are both still used today? Explain
Frye said that testimony must be based on principle that has general acceptance. Daubert expands
that to include 4 other criteria. Both are in use today, but Frye is mostly only used in smaller
towns. Daubert is used almost everywhere in the US.
53) Under the “Daubert Standard” of admissibility, what five (5) criteria must be considered?
Is technique testable? Has technique been subjected to peer review? Is known rate of error
acceptable? Have standards been developed to govern technique? Does technique has general
acceptance?
54) Discuss and diagram the five (5) different types of crime scene search patterns. What factors
determine which search pattern is employed?
Line/Strip is a search that is in straight lines. This is used on large, outdoor scenes. Grid search is
where people search in straight line that cross each other. This is used in large, outdoor scenes.
Zone search is when a team is assigned to a zone and then another search method is employed.
This is used in houses or buildings. Spiral search is when the people start at a critical point and
search inward or start at the outer edge and move inward. This is used in scenes with no barriers.
Wheel search is when people start at the center and move outward in straight lines. This is used on
small, circular scenes.
55) Discuss what should be done to secure and preserve a crime scene, as well as why it is important.
Nothing at the scene should be altered and no one should eat, drink, smoke, or litter. This is
important because nothing at the scene can be contaminated.
56) An alternate light source (ALS) may be used to find/locate evidence at a crime scene. What type(s) of
body fluids will fluoresce under the UV light of an ALS? Are there any other substances other than body
fluids that also will fluoresce? Is yes, what substance(s)?
Semen, saliva, urine, bleach
57) Semen stain fluorescence is exhibited under what wavelength range of UV light?
250-365 nm
58) What is luminol? Describe the mechanism by which luminol works.
Luminol is used to detect trace amounts of blood. It reacts with iron in hemoglobin and it then
releases a blue glow.
59) Will luminol damage DNA contained within a bloodstain?
It won’t damage DNA.
60) Will substances other than blood chemiluminesce upon treatment with luminol? If yes, what
substance(s)? Why might this phenomenon be important in criminal investigations?
It isn’t specific for blood. This is important because it makes substances that aren’t visible to the
naked eye visible.
61) Discuss some important considerations for collection and packaging of crime scene evidence.
Is the evidence fragile? Is the evidence a biohazard? Is the evidence sharp? Does the evidence have
value?
62) How should items of evidence that contain body fluids be packaged at a crime scene?
The stains should be dried if they are wet. They should then be packaged in paper bags or
cardboard boxes.
63) How should sharp objects or weapons collected at a crime scene be packaged?
Should be packaged in cardboard boxes or tubes.
64) How should cellular phones and other electronic devices associated with a crime be packaged?
Should be packaged in special bags called Faraday bags. They block signals and prevent static
electricity.
65) What is the purpose of evidence sealing tape?
It is designed to fracture easily and displays a hidden message when broken. This is to indicate
evidence tampering.
66) Discuss the two (2) most common types of evidence tape (and how each works to preserve integrity)
There is the normal evidence tape and the sealing tape. The normal tape is like regular tap but has
a hidden message. The sealing tape is a very aggressive tape that cannot be formally removed. It
has serrated edges that makes it hard to remove.
67) What should be included on a label for an item of evidence that has been packaged from a crime scene?
Agency name, case number, item number, description of item, name of personnel, and date of
collection.
68) How is death defined? Are the majority of deaths in the U.S. natural, homicides, suicides, or accidents?
Death is the permanent cessation of all vital functions; the end of life. The majority are natural
deaths.
69) What are the six (6) major duties of the medicolegal system?
Determine cause, manner, and time of death, identify the decedent, collect evidence, document
injuries, deduce how injuries occurred, and provide expert testimony.
70) Distinguish between cause of death and manner of death.
Cause of death is the medical reason for the death. Manner is the legal determination made by the
ME.
71) What are the five (5) official “manner of death” categories?
Homicide, suicide, accident, natural, and undetermined.
72) What are the differences between a coroner and a medical examiner (ME)?
A coroner may/may not be a physician, was in a law enforcement role, was an elected official, and
cannot perform autopsies. A ME is a physician, has specialized training in pathology, was
appointed by the governing body, and can perform autopsies.
73) Define forensic autopsy. Forensic autopsies usually include determination of nine (9) things. Discuss
these nine (9) goals/outcomes of a forensic autopsy.
Forensic autopsy is the systematic postmortem examination of a body to determine the cause of
death. The goals are identify the deceased, time of injury, causative object, dynamics of injury,
other contributing causes, duration of survival after injury, time of death, cause of death, and
manner of death.
74) Discuss the standard five (5) approaches to identifying a deceased individual during an autopsy. Can you
list them in order of preference?
Latent fingerprints, dental records, DNA, unique features, and personal documents.
75) What are the seven (7) postmortem “stages of death”? Know the meanings of the Latin terms used in the
names of these seven stages of death.
Pallor mortis, algor mortis, rigor mortis, livor mortis, putrefaction, decomposition, and
skeletonization.
76) Which of the postmortem “stages of death” are primarily used for estimating “time of death”?
Algor, rigor, and livor.
77) Define algor mortis and how it is used to estimate time of death. What is the general “rule of thumb”
for the rate of cooling of a body postmortem?
This is the cooling of the body after death. The temp of a body drops 1.5 F per hour for about 4
hours and 1 F per hour until the body reaches ambient temp.
78) Discuss various factors that can affect algor mortis.
Type of clothing, illness, weather, room climate, drugs in system.
79) What is livor mortis? Discuss the formation of postmortem lividity and how it can be used in homicide
investigations.
It is the discoloration of the skin due to pooling of blood in the lowest points of the body. It is
formed 2 hours after the person died. It is used to determine how the body was positioned after
death.
80) Is livor mortis a permanent condition? Explain.
It is permanent because blood doesn’t disappear.
81) What is rigor mortis? Explain the precise progression of rigor mortis (e.g., time frame, development),
and how it can be used in homicide investigations.
It is the stiffening of the body after death. Rigor can take up to 24 hours to completely form. It
isn’t permanent and will dissipate after about 48 hours. This is used to determine time of death.
82) Is rigor mortis a permanent condition? Explain.
It isn’t permanent. It goes away in about 48 hours.
83) Discuss various factors that can affect rigor mortis.
Temperature, activity before death, and body weight.
84) Estimating the time of death is not an exact science and involves calculation of a postmortem interval
(PMI). Can algor mortis, livor mortis, and rigor mortis be used independently in time-of-death
estimations……..or must these conditions be considered collectively?
Time of death wouldn’t be as accurate if they were used separately. They are more accurate when
used together.
85) Define the following terms: first-degree murder, felony murder, second-degree murder, voluntary
manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter
First degree murder is the willful, deliberate, premeditated, with malice aforethought; or murder
that is committed during another dangerous felony. Felony murder is murder that occurs during
the commission of a dangerous felony. Second degree murder is the intentional murder but not
premeditated. Voluntary manslaughter is the intentional killing of someone in which the offender
acted during a heat of passion.
86) Discuss the various types of evidence standardly collected during an autopsy of a homicide victim.
Clothing, sexual assault kit, fingernail scrapings, cheek swabs, blood, bullets, etc.
87) What is vitreous humor and how is it used in homicide investigations?
It is the liquid in the eyes. It can be used because it contains DNA.
88) Discuss the various risk factors for homicide.
Personal use/abuse of alcohol, a lot of money, sexual partners, hitchhiking, participation in
internet dating.
89) What is the “simple definition” of sexual assault?
Any nonconsensual sexual act.
90) In legal terms, “sexual assault” can include a broad range of unwanted sexual contact. Discuss.
It can include anything that is unwanted by another person if it is sexual.
91) Discuss/list probative types of evidence that may be collected in a sexual assault case.
Semen, saliva, urine, blood, hairs, condoms, drugs, weapons.
92) What information can be obtained from a hair collected in association with an alleged sexual assault?
Is it hair? Is it human? What area of the body is it from? Is there damage? Is it suitable for
comparison?
93) Is it possible to determine if a hair was forcibly removed (pulled) or naturally shed? Explain….
Yes, If the root is stretched or if there is follicular tissue attached, then it is was possibly ripped
out.
94) Discuss the basic structure of hair, and list the three major components.
There is the cuticle, cortex, and the medulla.
95) What is the cuticle of a hair? Can you visibly identify this structure on a diagram or microscope slide?
The cuticle is the outer layer of the hair. It is made of overlapping scales.
96) What is the cortex of a hair? Can you visibly identify this structure on a diagram or microscope slide?
The cortex is the largest part of the hair shaft. It contains pigment granules.
97) What is the medulla of a hair? Can you visibly identify this structure on a diagram or microscope slide?
The medulla is the inner most layer of the hair. The medulla can be absent, fragmented,
interrupted, or continuous.
98) Name the four (4) medullary patterns that exist in human hair. Be able to visually identify each.
I named them above.
99) Distinguish between the shape of the cross section of hairs from different races/ethnicities.
Asian hair is circular. European hair is oval. And African hair is oval to elliptical.
100) Distinguish between the medulla patterns of hairs from different races/ethnicities.
Asian hair has a wide, continuous medulla. European hair has a fragmented or absent medulla.
African hair is hard to distinguish a medulla.
101) What is the name of the presumptive test for semen that we discussed in class?
Acid Phosphatase
102) What is acid phosphatase (AP)? Where is it produced?
It is an enzyme in seminal fluid. It is produced in the prostate epithelium.
103) Is acid phosphatase (AP) specific for semen (i.e., is it only found in males)?
No it is not. It can be found in other bodily fluids but at lower concentrations.
104) Why is it important to know, prior to AP testing, if a condom was used in the sexual assault?
Condoms can have spermicides on them which can change the results.
105) The AP test is a color-change test. What does a positive results look like?
It looks purple.
106) How can you distinguish between a “true” positive AP test for semen, and a false positive?
You can test the semen for sperm and that will determine if the positive is true.
107) In class, we discussed two different confirmatory tests for semen. Describe each test, and precisely what
molecule/substance is detected or targeted by each testing procedure.
There is the p30 test. It is a major protein present in semen. There is a card and there are 2 lines if
it is positive, and 1 if it is negative. The other test is the AP test. It turns purple if positive.
108) What is a vasectomy? Can vasectomized males still ejaculate? If so, what is different about the semen
that they ejaculate?
A vasectomy is the surgical removal of the bilateral segment of the ductus deterens. They can still
ejaculate but it doesn’t contain sperm.
109) Define the following terms: aspermia, oligospermia
Aspermia is a condition where males cant produce sperm. Oligospermia is a condition where
males have abnormally low sperm counts.
110) Will vasectomized males still produce acid phosphatase (AP)?
They can produce AP but no sperm can be see under a microscope.
111) What is PSA and where is it produced? Is PSA specific for semen (i.e., is it only found in males)?
PSA is a protein present in semen. It is only present in semen.
112) What do positive and negative test results look like for PSA (p30)?
There is a card that shows if it is positive or negative for PSA. 2 lines is positive and 1 line is
negative.
113) What is forensic anthropology? What does a forensic anthropologist do?
It is the application of anatomical science of anthropology and its various subfields in a legal
setting. The scientist assists in identifying skeletal remains.
114) What is forensic taphonomy? Is it related to forensic anthropology?
It is the study of postmortem changes to human remains. It is related to anthropology, but it is also
different.
115) List the five (5) major roles of a forensic anthropologist in criminal investigations.
Assist in identification of deceased individuals, are instrumental in investigation and
documentation of genocide, use physical features of a skeleton, examine skeletal abnormalities,
and document past traumas.
116) Define sexual dimorphism. Does sexual dimorphism exist in the human skeleton?
Some bones and features appear different based on gender. Yes
117) Do all bones in the human skeleton exhibit sexual dimorphism? If no, which ones do?
No. The most known ones are the pelvis and skull.
118) What is the most accurate indicator of sex in the human skeleton?
The degrees of the pelvis.
119) Be able to identify labeled components of the human pelvis (e.g., ilium, sacrum, coccyx, pubic arch)
120) How does the pubic arch differ between males and females?
Males have a more narrow arch and females have a wider one.
121) How does the distance between the ischial spines differ between males and females?
Males have a shorter distance between the spines and females have a greater one.
122) The central role of the human pelvis in the birth process means that it possesses several shape
differences that can be used to distinguish between females and males. Which of the sexes has a
“narrow, deep pelvis”? Which sex has a “broad, shallow pelvis”?
Males have a deep pelvis while females have a shallow one.
123) How does the sacrum differ between males and females?
Males have a longer, more narrow one while females have a wider and shorter one.
124) How does the coccyx differ between males and females?
Males have one that curves inward and females are straight.
125) Be able to distinguish between images of a male pelvis and a female pelvis (in a side-by-side
comparison)
126) In addition to the pelvis, what other component of the human skeleton exhibits sexual dimorphism?
The skull
127) What is the mastoid process? What is the purpose of the mastoid process?
It is a conical protuberance of the posterior portion of the temporal bone. The purpose of it is to
serve as the site of muscle attachment.
128) Can you visually identify/locate the temporal bone and the mastoid process on an image of a human
skull? How does the mastoid process differ between males and females?
Males have a more prominent one while a females is less prominent.
129) Can you visually identify/locate the frontal bone on an image of a human skull? How does the frontal
bone differ between males and females?
Males have a more sloping forehead while females have a more vertical forehead.
130) What is the supraorbital ridge? What is another (more common) term for the supraorbital ridge?
It is the brow ridge.
131) Can you visually identify/locate the supraorbital ridge on an image of a human skull? How does the
supraorbital ridge differ between males and females?
Males have a more prominent brow ridge while females have a less prominent one.
132) How does the shape of the eye orbitals (eye sockets) differ between males and females?
Males have square eye orbitals while females have more rounded ones.
133) The mandible is the structural component of the skull that contains teeth and forms the basic structure of
the chin. How does the mandible/chin differ between males and females?
Males have a more square chin while females have a more pointed and angular chin.
134) Anthropologists take various measurements during examination of a skeleton and then use those
measurements in mathematical formulas to estimate the stature (height) of the unknown decedent. What
bones are typically measured for use in stature/height calculations?
The femur, tibia, fibula, humerus, ulna, and radius are usually used.
135) Mathematical formulas used in the calculation of stature/height depend on several factors. Identify and
discuss these factors.
They depend on sex, age, and ancestry.
136) How many bones are contained in an average adult skeleton?
206
137) How many bones are contained in the human skeleton at birth? What happens to these individual bones
as a person ages?
450+. The cartilage is replaced with bone so the epiphyseal line is no longer visible.
138) What are epiphyseal plates and where are they found?
They are growth plates made out of cartilage. They are near the ends of long bones.
139) How do epiphyseal plates differ in children versus adults?
They harden with age.
140) How is the approximate age of a skeleton determined? Discuss the particular features examined, and the
overall approach to estimating age (to improve/ensure accuracy of the prediction).
Every long bone has an age range when fusion is completed. The range can be several years apart.
The features that are usually examined are the humerus, radius, femur, tibia, and clavicle. To find
the age of fusion, one has to look at the proximal/medial end and the distal/lateral end of the
bones.
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Midterm Exam Review (Spring 2019)

Forensic Science 2217 (FORS-2217)

1) What is the “broad” definition of forensic science?

30) What is the “specific” definition of forensic evidence?

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