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Fracture
Break; a discontinuity in the cortex of a bone; sometimes used in relation to a cartilaginous
structure such as a costal cartilage or thyroid cartilage.
Histology
(histopathology)
The study of the microscopic structure of tissues (histology) in a diseased state
(histopathology).
Human identification
In this document, the attachment of the correct name to a dead body.
Human remains
In this document, synonymous with deceased person or dead body, whether the body is
freshly dead, decomposing or skeletonized.
Humerus
The upper arm bone.
Immediate cause of
death
The disease, condition or complication, resulting from the underlying or an intermediate
cause, that immediately precedes death.
Inventory
List.
Laceration
A tear or split in the skin or other organ or soft tissue due to blunt force.
Livor mortis, lividity
(post mortem)
The post-mortem phenomenon of blood settling under the influence of gravity.
Manner of death
The summary of the circumstances of the death; thus: homicide, suicide, accident, natural
or undetermined.
Minimum Number of
Individuals (MNI)
Forensic anthropological term used in relation to the assessment of commingled remains
and referring to how many individuals, as a minimum, are represented in the commingled
remains being examined.
Mode of death
The pathophysiological process by which a person died (e.g. haemorrhage, respiratory
failure, cardiac failure, multi-organ failure, septicaemia). Its use alone is not sufficient to
complete the cause of death properly in the internationally accepted WHO format. See
also “Cause of death”.
Mortuary (morgue)
The place for storing, keeping and looking after the dead until final disposal or interment;
includes the autopsy room; hospital for the dead.
Ordnance
Relating to artillery, large guns.
Osteophytes
Usually small growths of extra bone associated with degenerative, osteoarthritic changes in
the joints.
Peri-mortem
Around the time of death. This term is often used in forensic anthropology in relation to
injuries because, once the remains have skeletonized, an injury inflicted shortly before
death will look identical to the same injury inflicted shortly after death.
Petechiae (petechial
haemorrhages)
Pinpoint or “dot-like” haemorrhages. Some forms occur in life, others can occur after death.
Photolog
The list of all photographs taken with related data, e.g. the name of the photographer, the
time the photograph was taken and the place where it was taken.
Photo markers
Markers with numbers and letters visible in photographs enabling later identification of the
photographs and the items shown in them.
Postcranial skeleton
The entire skeleton apart from the skull.
Post-mortem changes
A term that encompasses all the natural changes that can occur to a dead body.
Post-mortem data
Data obtained from the dead body to compare with data obtained about a named
individual while alive (ante-mortem data), usually for the purposes of identifying the dead
body.
Post-mortem
examination
In this document, examination of the body after death not including an internal
examination. (In this document, an examination of a dead body that includes an internal
examination is an autopsy.)
Prosector
The authorized medical practitioner/forensic doctor undertaking the autopsy and preparing
the report.
The Minnesota Protocol on the Investigation of Potentially Unlawful Death (2016)
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