Abdominal cavity: The cavity holds the digestive organs and the kidneys.
Abrasion: Superficial injury to the skin.
Algor mortis: The change in body temperature after death.
Ante mortem: Condition or injury that is observed in the body before death.
Anterior and Posterior: With respect to a body, anterior means the front of the body and posterior means the back of the body.
Aorta: Main artery that supplies oxygenated blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
Artefacts: Things which mimic injury or disease but are neither.
Asphyxia: Condition where there is lack of oxygen in the body which can lead to unconsciousness and death.
Auditory hallucinations; The experience of external sounds where there are no external stimuli
Autopsy: Post mortem examination of deceased to discover all injuries and disease to determine possible cause of death.
Axilla: Armpit
Bilateral: Both sides of the body.
Brachial plexus; The nerves running from the spine into the arm
Buccal cavity: The inside of the mouth.
Callus : An area of thickening of bone at the place of healing
Carotid arteries: These arteries located in the neck supply oxygenated blood to the neck, brain and face.
Cerebellum: Largest section of the hindbrain.
Cerebral oedema: Swelling of the brain
Cerebrum: Largest part of the brain which consists of two hemispheres.
Cervix: Found at the lower end of the uterus and above the vagina in females.
Clavicle: Also known as the collarbone, connects the arm to the body.
Clitoris: External genitalia found in females located in the vulva.
Cognitive impairment: Partial impairment of memory, thinking, perception or mood
Depigmentation: Complete loss of pigment from a patch of skin
Congenital: Since birth.
Contusion: Also known as bruise, injury that leads to blood vessels bursting underneath the skin.
Cranial cavity: The cavity contains the brain and fills up most of the upper part of the skull.
Cyanosis: Bluish coloration of skin due to deficiency of oxygen.
Cyst: Pocket of membranous tissue that is filled up with fluid, air or other substances.
Duodenum: First part of the small intestine.
Edema: Swelling which occurs due to buildup of fluid.
Entry and exit wounds: Wounds used to describe the trajectory of a projectile. Entry wounds refer to the wound through which a projectile such as a bullet entered the body while exit wounds refer to the wound through which it exited the body.
Epiglottis: A flap in the throat which prevents food and water from entering the windpipe.
Femoral artery: Main artery that supplies oxygenated blood to the thigh and leg.
Femur: Also known as the thigh bone is the longest and strongest bone in our body.
Fibula: Also known as the calf bone, is located on the lateral side of the tibia.
Fracture: Break of bone.
Haematuria: Blood in the urine
Hemorrhage: Discharge of blood from blood vessels.
Histology: Study of tissues.
Humerus: It is a long bone that connects the shoulder to the elbow.
Hymen: Thin layer of mucosal tissue that covers the external opening of the vagina.
Hyperpigmentation: Increase in pigmentation of a patch of skin Hypopigmentation: Partial loss of pigment from a patch of skin
Hypoxia: Lack of enough oxygen to the whole body or certain parts of the body.
Incised wound: Injury due to sharp edged object that divides everything in its path. Incised wounds are rather longer on the skin than deep into the tissue.
Intrusive memories: Involuntary, unpleasant and recurrent memories of an incident
Jugular vein: These veins located in the neck drain the deoxygenated blood from the neck, brain and face.
Labia majora: Outer lip of the vagina which is covered with pubic hair.
Labia minora: Inner lip of the vagina which lies inside the labia majora.
Laceration: Injury due to blunt force leading to tear or split in the skin.
Larynx: Structure made from cartilage, muscles and ligaments that guards the trachea as well as helps produce sound, also known as voice box.
Lesion: Damage to the tissue due to injury or disease.
Ligature: Objects used for tying something. Ligature marks refer to the injuries caused due to tying of a body part.
Livor mortis: Referred to as post mortem staining and is the bluish discolouration observed in the body after death. This is due to the pooling of the blood due to gravitational force. Also known as lividity or hypostasis.
Mandible: It is the lower jaw.
Medial and Lateral: The midline can be described as an imaginary line which divides the body into two equal halves. Medial means towards or closer to midline and lateral means away or farther from the midline.
Medical history: An individual’s personal account of a health problem
Medico-legal: Relating to that branch of medicine that assists the courts
Microbiology: The study of microscopic organisms such as bacteria and virus.
Neuropathy: Nerve damage
Oedematous: Swollen
Pallor mortis: Refers to the paleness which sets in the skin colour immediately after death due to the lack of circulation of blood in the body.
Patella: Also known as the kneecap, it protects the knee joint.
Pathognomonic: A pathological finding that has only one cause
Pelvic cavity: The cavity holds the reproductive organs as well as organs used for excretion.
Pelvic girdle: Also known as the pelvis, it connects the trunks to the leg and supports urinary bladder, intestines and internal sex organs.
Perianal: Around the anus
Perineum: Area between the vaginal opening and the anus.
Petechiae: Clusters of very small bruises
Prone: A body is said to be in a prone position when it is lying face down.
Psychosomatic symptoms: Apparently physical symptoms that have a psychological cause
Retinal haemorrhage : Bleeding into the back of the eye
Pulmonary congestion: Accumulation of fluid in the lungs.
Puncture: Wound made by a pointed object.
Putrefaction: Process of decay and tissue loss after death.
Radiology: Branch of medicine that uses medical imaging to study and diagnose conditions within the body.
Radius: One of the two bones found in the forearm.
Rectum: Portion of the large intestine that terminates into the anus.
Rigor mortis: The stiffening of the muscles after death which is also referred to as post mortem rigidity.
Scapula: Also known as the shoulder blade, it connects the upper arm to the collar bone.
Sequelae: The consequences of a medical problem
Serology: Study of body fluids.
Singeing: Burnt hair, usually found around entry wounds in case of a firearm injury.
Sternum: Also known as the breastbone, it connects the ribs to form the rib cage, which helps protect lungs and heart.
Striae distensae: Stretch marks of the skin
Subdural bleeding: Bleeding between certain layers of fibrous tissue covering the brain
Subdural hematoma: Pooling of blood between the brain and its outermost covering.
Superior vena cava: Large vein that drains the deoxygenated blood into the heart.
Supine: A body is said to be in a supine position when it is lying face up and on the back.
Tattooing: When partial or unburnt particles of gunpowder are embedded onto the skin around an entry wound in case of a firearm injury. Presence of this is usually indicative of intermediate range of fire.
Thoracic cavity: It is also known as the chest cavity and holds the lungs and the heart.
Tibia: Also known as the shin bone, it connects the knee joint to the ankle joint.
Toxicology: Examination of toxic substances including their detection and quantification.
Trachea: Also known as the windpipe, it transports air to the lungs
Ulna: One of the two bones found in the forearm.
Urethral meatus: The aperture at the end of the penis through which urine is voided
Vectors of Disease: Agents that can transmit infections
Viscera: Internal organs of the body, specifically those within the chest and abdomen.
Vitreous Humor: Colourless fluid in the eye which may be used to estimate time since death.
Vulva: External female genitalia that consists of labia majora, labia minora, clitoris and hymen.
Yorumlar