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Glossary

A brief list of words and terms used frequently in homicide investigations.
 

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 

 
 
 
 
 

A

 
Abdominal cavity- the largest cavity in the body containing stomach, liver, kidneys, intestines and other organs
Abrasion-  a skin injury where a wearing, grinding, or rubbing away by friction of the upper layers is caused
Abrasion collar- the perforation and bruising effect caused to the skin as a projectile passes through the skin, circular
Acute-    characterized by sharpness or severity
Adipocere- a waxy or unctuous brownish substance consisting chiefly of fatty acids and calcium soaps produced by chemical changes affecting dead animal fat and muscle long buried or immersed in moisture (grave wax).
Alibi in another place : elsewhere (the defendant was able to prove himself alibi) 
Amnesia- loss of memory due usually to brain injury, shock, fatigue, repression, or illness
Anatomy- the internal and skeletal structure of the body.
Anoxia- hypoxia especially of such severity as to result in permanent damage, extreme lack of oxygen.
Ante-mortem-               preceding death
Anterior-   the front of the human body, situated before or toward the front
Aorta-                          the great arterial trunk that carries blood from the heart to be distributed by branch arteries through the body.
Areola-                        a colored ring around the nipple of a breast
Arrhythmia-  an alteration in rhythm of the heartbeat either in time or force
Arsenic- poisonous element that is commonly metallic steel-gray, crystalline, and brittle.
Artery-  any of the tubular branching muscular- and elastic-walled vessels that carry blood from the heart through the body
Asphyxia-  a lack of oxygen or excess of carbon dioxide in the body that is usually caused by interruption of breathing and that causes unconsciousness.
Autoeroticism- sexual gratification obtained solely through stimulation by oneself of one's own body.
Autolysis-                    breakdown of all or part of a cell or tissue by self-produced enzymes
Autopsy-                      an examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death or the character and extent of changes produced by disease
Auto-sadism- a sexual perversion in which gratification is obtained by the infliction of physical or mental pain to one self
Avulsion- a forcible separation or detachment: as a : a tearing away of a body part accidentally or surgically
   
   
   
 

                                        B
   
   
Bestiality- sexual relations between a human being and  animals
Blanching- to make white (companion to lividity)
Bondage- a state of being bound usually by compulsion (as of law or mastery), masochistic world of  ligatures, hoods, gags
Bruise- swelling of skin as blood accumulates as a result of ruptured blood vessels leaving a bluish color. Color changes as  bruise  begins to heal
Bullet track- the path of a bullet or projectile through the body or object
Burking- to suppress quietly or indirectly causing asphyxia
   
   
   
                                          C
   
   
Cadaveric spasm-        the stiffening and rigidity of a group of muscles  immediately after death, a kind of instant rigor mortis, a muscle phenomenon in which some muscles of the body become stiff instantly, rather than in the usual two to eight hours normal rigor takes to develop
Carbon dioxide- colorless gas formed in the tissues of the body naturally while breathing. Expelled through the lungs
Carbon monoxide-       an extremely  toxic, colorless and odorless gas caused by burning carbon or organic fuels
Cardio-                        relating to the heart
Carotid-  the main arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain
Catch- the term used when a detective is assigned or "catches" a case
Cause of death-            the causal agent resulting in the death of a human or animal
Cavity-                         a natural hollow or sinus within the body
Cell-                            the basic structure of life (plants, animals, humans). Capable alone, or interacting with other cells of performing all the fundamental functions of life, and forming the smallest structural unit of living matter capable of functioning independently
Cerebral-                     pertaining to the anterior or upper part of the brain, pertaining to the cerebrum
Cervical-                      of or relating to the neck
Chop wounds-             wounds caused by a large object with an edge (axe, machete, cleaver)
Coagulate-                   being clotted or congealed (usually pertaining to blood)    
Comatose-  affected with coma, unresponsive
Contact wound- a star shaped wound that occurs when a firearm is pressed against the body and fired. The gasses expands under the skin and bursts away from the body
Contusion- injury to tissue usually without laceration, a bruise
Coronary-                    relating to, or being the coronary arteries or veins of the heart
Corpse- a dead body especially of a human being
Craniotomy- surgical opening of the skull
Cranium-                      the part that encloses the brain, the skull
   
   
   
                                          D
   
   
Decomposition- post mortem decay, to break up into constituent parts by or as if by a chemical process
Defeminize- to remove a woman's breasts
Defensive wounds- injuries sustained fending off attack, normally lacerations around the arms & hands sustained from sharp edged weapon,  bullet track through hands
Depersonalization- perpetrator's attempt to hide the identity of his victim as to not identify with such victim. May  cover face, mutilate the face
Diagnosis-                    the art or act of identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms, investigation or analysis of the cause or nature of a condition, situation, or problem , a statement or conclusion from such an analysis
Disembowel- to remove an organ from (a patient) or the contents of (an organ)
De-sanguinated-           drained of all blood
DNA-                          (deoxyribo-nucleic-acid)  the molecular basis of heredity, localized especially in cell nuclei, the body's genetic code that    regulates the biological composition of that individual
DOA dead on arrival
Dorsal-                        relating to or situated near or on the back especially of an animal or of one of its parts
Dying declaration-        the statement of a mortally injured person who is aware he/she is about to die, telling who caused the injury and possibly the circumstances ("Frankie shot me"). Although hearsay since the dead person cannot testify in person, it is admissible on the theory that a dying person has no reason not to tell the truth
   
   
   
                                           E
   
   
Edema- an abnormal infiltration and excess accumulation of serous fluid in connective tissue as in lungs
Embalming-                  to treat (a dead body) so as to protect from decay
Embolus-                     an abnormal particle (as an air bubble or blood clot) circulating in the blood
Embryo- the developing human individual from the time of implantation to the end of the eighth week after conception
Entomology- a branch of zoology that deals with insects, specific insects and their stage of being on dead body point to a specific time of death
Enzymes-                     any of numerous complex proteins that are produced by living cells and catalyze specific biochemical reactions
Entrails-                        internal parts of body
Epidermis-                    the outer non-sensitive and nonvascular layer of the skin
Evisceration-                to take out the entrails of body, disembowelment
Exsanguination-            the action or process of draining or losing blood
Exhume-                       to take out of the grave or tomb
   
   
   
                                          F
   
   
Fatal-  deadly, causing death
Fetus-                           a developing human from usually three months after conception to birth
Flaccid-                        not firm or stiff, limp
Floater-  a law enforcement term for a body that has been in a body of water for a period of time, decomposition of the body produce gases which after a period of time forces the body to the surface
Fratricide-                    one that murders or kills his or her own brother or sister
   
   
   
                                          G
   
   
Genitalia-                      the organs of the reproductive system
Glycoprotein-               a semen-specific protein present only in semen. It is useful in in sexual assault investigation
   
   
   
                                          H
   
   
Helix-                           the double spiral strand associated with DNA
Hematoma- mass of usually clotted blood that forms in a tissue, organ, or body space as a result of a broken blood vessel     
Hemorrhage-                a copious discharge of blood from the blood vessels, heavy bleeding
Homicidomania-          a manic desire to kill   
Hypertension-               high blood pressure    
Hypothermia-               subnormal temperature of the body caused by prolonged exposure to cold
Hypoxia-                      a deficiency of oxygen reaching the tissues of the body
   
   
   
                                           I
   
   
Infanticide-                    the killing of an infant
Inferior-                        situated below another and especially another similar superior part of an upright body, away from the head, term normally used in autopsies
Incision-                       a wound inflicted by an instrument with a sharp cutting edge
   
   
   
                                           J
   
   
   
Jaundice- yellow pigmentation of the skin associated with liver disease
   
   
   
                                           L
   
   
Laceration-   a split or tear of the skin, torn or ragged wound usually associated with blunt force or a jagged edge
Laparotomy-                surgical section of abdominal wall
Lateral-                        pertaining to one side; situated on, directed toward, or coming from the side
Larynx- the modified upper part of the trachea of air-breathing vertebrates that in humans, and a few lower forms contains the vocal cords
Ligament- the tough band of tissue which connects bones and viscera, connecting the articular extremities of bones or supporting an organ in place
Ligature-                       something that is used to bind
Lividity-                        post-mortem discoloration due to the gravitational properties of blood as a liquid in a body, red/bluish color: companion to blanching
Livor Mortis-               same as lividity
Lumbar-                       pertaining to lower region of the back
Luminol- a versatile chemical that exhibits chemiluminescence, with a striking blue glow, when mixed with an appropriate oxidizing agent. Luminol is used by forensic investigators to detect trace amounts of blood left at crime scenes for it reacts to hemoglobin, an oxygen-carrying protein in red-blood cells
 
   
   
   
                                          M
   
   
Manner of death-          categorization as to how the cause of death came about, medical examiner terms: accident, homicide, natural, suicide, undetermined
Masochism-                 pleasure  being abused or humiliated, a sexual perversion characterized by pleasure in being subjected to pain or humiliation
Membrane-                  a thin layer of tissue which covers a surface or divides a space or organ
Medial-                        pertaining to the middle
Midline-                        the center of the head, chest and abdomen
Modus Operandi-         a criminal's characteristic patterns and style of work, referred to as "M-O" in the law enforcement community
Mummification-             the drying up of the body as a results of burial in a dry or arid place, dry up and shrivel
   
   
   
                                          N
   
   
Necrophilism- sexual attraction to dead bodies, engaging in sex with dead body
Necrophagia- the eating of dead bodies, in homicide investigations associated with forensic entomology, flies and beetle provide clues
Necrosis-                     death of tissue
Nucleus-                      the  center portion of the cell from which chromosomes and nucleoli arise, composed of DNA and other proteins
   
   
   
                                          P
   
   
Paraphilia-                   a pattern of recurring sexually arousing mental imagery or behavior that involves unusual and especially socially unacceptable sexual practices
Passive euthanasia- willful omission (withholding treatment /medication) leading to death
Pathologist-                  a specialist in pathology; one who interprets and diagnoses the changes caused by disease or death in human tissues and body fluids
Paterred injuries-          reflects the identity of wounding object  (hammer blows)
Pedophile-                   one who has a desired sexual perversion in which children are the preferred sexual object
Perpetrator-                 one suspected of committing a crime, the "perp"
Petechial hemorrhages-  small pin-like hemorrhaging under skin and membrane lining of the eyelids, usually noticeable in asphyxia related homicides
Pimp-                          one who lives of the avails of prostitutes
Posterior- the backside (dorsal) of body, usually seen in wound charts along with anterior (front)
Post-mortem-              after death
Predatory-                   directed towards a stranger or with whom no substantial relationship exists
Probable cause- reasonable grounds to believe that a person has committed a crime, usually the level of suspicion needed to effect an arrest
Psychopathic killer-  a person who kills for pleasure and usually possesses a strong urge to kill
Psychosis-                   derangement of the mind (as in schizophrenia) characterized by defective or lost contact with reality especially as evidenced by delusions, hallucinations, and disorganized speech and behavior
Purge fluid-                  decomposition fluids draining from the mouth or nose
Putrefaction-                the decomposition of animal proteins, especially by anaerobic microorganisms. Putrefaction usually results in amines such as putrescine and cadaverine, which have a putrid odor. Material that is subject to putrefaction is called putrescible.
   
   
   
                                          R
   
   
Rancid- a musty or rank taste or smell
Rigor mortis-               "stiff death" (Latin), caused by a chemical change in the muscles after death, causing the limbs of the corpse to become stiff and difficult to move or manipulate. Assuming mild temperatures, rigor usually sets in about 3-4 hours after death, with full rigor being in effect at about 12 hours, and eventually subsiding to relaxation at about 36 hours. Times for the onset of rigor mortis can vary from a few minutes to several hours depending on the temperature of the environment in which the body is found 
   
   
   
                                          S
   
   
Sadism-                       getting pure pleasure from inflicting harm to another for sexual gratification, harm can be physical or psychological
Schizophrenia-             a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a mental disorder characterized by impairments in the perception or expression of reality and by significant social or occupational dysfunction. A person experiencing schizophrenia is typically characterized as demonstrating disorganized thinking, and as experiencing delusions or auditory hallucinations
Sclera-                        the white of the eye
Semen-                        secretion of the male reproductive organ
Serial murder- three or more separate murders over a period of time committed by the same individual
Serology-                     the process and science of blood serums
Staging-                       the act of altering a crime scene to mislead investigators
Still birth-                     28 weeks of gestation and over, and born dead
Stippling-                     pinpoint hemorrhaging due to the burning gunpowder discharged from a firearm, usually indicates proximity of firearm to victim
Subdural-                    between the dura (lining that covers the brain) and the skull 
Subdural hematoma-    associated with severe head trauma, subdural bleeding which causes pressure on the brain often with fatal results
   
   
   
                                          T
   
   
Tibia-                          the inner and large bone of the leg below the knee
Tissue-                        a collection of interconnected cells that perform a similar function within an organism
Torso- the trunk of a body without the head and limbs
Toxicology-                 is the study of the adverse effects of chemicals on living organisms
Trachea-                      the windpipe
Trauma- a physical injury caused by a violent physical action or a consumption of toxic substance
   
   
   
                                          U
   
   
Uxoricide-                   the murder of one's wife, usually done so with excessive force due to emotional state (multiple stab wounds, gunshots, etc)
   
   
   
                                          W
   
   
Wound-                       an injury to the body consisting of a laceration or breaking of the skin
Wounds -                      (defensive)  made when the victim attempts to defend him/herself against the attack. Noticed most on the hands and arms
Wounds-                       (hesitation)  suicide attempts, superficial sharp force wounds at wrist, elbows or neck
Wounds-                       (contact)     a star shaped wound that occurs when a firearm is pressed against the body and fired. The gasses expands under the skin and bursts away from the body
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

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