1.
Abrasion - a skin injury caused by scraping off of superficial skin due to friction against a
rough surface.
2. Abortion - is the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of
a fetus or embryo before viability.
3. Adipocere - a peculiar waxy substance consisting of salts and fatty acids and formed
from the decomposition of corpse tissues, especially in moist habitats, also called grave-
wax.
4. Algor mortis (Latin: algor - coldness; mortis - death) is the reduction in body temperature
following death.
5. - Rigor mortis (Latin: rigor - stiffness, mortis - death") is one of the recognizable signs of
death, caused by chemical changes in the muscles after death, causing the limbs of the
corpse to become stiff and difficult to move or manipulate.
6. Autopsy - a post-mortem examination to discover the cause of death or the extent of
disease. An autopsy is derived from the Greek word "autos" - oneself and "opsis" -
sight/view.
7. Medico-Legal Autopsy or Forensic or coroner's - autopsies seek to find the cause and
manner of death and to identify the decedent.
8. Clinical or Pathological autopsies are performed to diagnose a particular disease or for
research purposes.
9. Anatomical or Academic Autopsies - are performed by students of anatomy for study
purposes only.
10. Virtual or Medical Imaging Autopsies - are performed utilizing imaging technology only,
primarily magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT).
11. - Forensic Autopsy - is used to determine the cause and manner of death.
12. Anatomy - the branch of science concerned with the bodily structure of humans,
animals, and other living organisms, especially as revealed by dissection and the
separation of parts.
13. Biochemistry - the branch of science concerned with the chemical and physico chemical
processes and substances which occur within living organisms.
14. Cadaveric Spasm - also known as postmortem spasm, instantaneous rigor, cataleptic
rigidity, or instantaneous rigidity, is a rare form of muscular stiffening that occurs at the
moment of death, persists into the period of rigor mortis and can be mistaken for rigor
mortis. Cadaveric spasm occurs immediately after death and is useful to ascertain the
circumstances of death.
15. Cerebral Concussion – there is a brief loss of consciousness and sometimes memory
after ahead injury that doesn’t cause obvious physical damage.
16. Cerebral Contusion – they are bruises to the brain, usually caused by a direct, strong
blow to the head. They are more serious than concussions.
17. Circulatory System - also called the cardiovascular system, is an organ system that
permits blood to circulate and transport nutrients (such as amino acids and electrolytes),
oxygen, carbon dioxide, hormones, and blood cells to and from cells in the body to
nourish it and help to fight diseases stabilize body temperature and pH, and to maintain
homeostasis.
18. Contempt of Court - any willful disobedience to or disregard of a court order or any
misconduct in the presence of a court action that interferes with a judge's ability to
administer justice or that insults the dignity of the court. Punishable by fine or
imprisonment or both.
19. Contusion - also called a bruise, is a type of hematoma of tissue in which capillaries and
sometimes venules are damaged by trauma, allowing blood to seep, hemorrhage, or
extravasate into the surrounding interstitial tissues.
20. Death - Complete cessation of all cardiopulmonary (heart-lung) and/or cessation of brain
activity. Death is the termination of all biological functions that sustain a living organism.
21. Somatic or Clinical Death - permanent cessation of all vital bodily functions.
22. Molecular or Cellular Death - refers to the death of cells. 3 to 6 hours after cessation of
life.
23. Apparent death or State of Suspended Animation - a state in which the processes of the
body (such as blood circulation) stop or become very slow for a period of time while a
person or animal is unconscious.
24. Tokyo Declaration - is a set of international guidelines for physicians concerning torture
and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in relation to detention
and imprisonment ,which was adopted in October 1975 during the 29th General
assembly of the World Medical Association.
25. Defloration - is the laceration or rupture of the hymen as a result of sexual intercourse.
26. Dermis - the thick layer of living tissue below the epidermis which forms the true skin,
containing blood capillaries, nerve endings, sweat glands, hair follicles, and other
structures.
27. Digestive System - The digestive system is a group of organs working together to
convert food into energy and basic nutrients to feed the entire body.
28. Dr. Pedro P. Solis - Philippines father of Legal Medicine.
29. Ecchymosis - a discoloration of the skin resulting from bleeding underneath, typically
caused by bruising.
30. Endocrine System - refers to the collection of glands of an organism that secrete
hormones directly into the circulatory system to be carried towards a distant target
organ.
31. Epidermis - the outermost layer of the skin of a human or other vertebrate animal.
32. Euthanasia - Meaning good death ( well or good ), Refers to the practice of ending life in
a painless manner. The deliberate intervention was undertaken with the express
intention of ending life, to relieve intractable suffering.
33. Excretory System - is a passive biological system that removes excess, unnecessary
materials from an organism, so as to help maintain homeostasis within the organism and
prevent damage to the body.
34. Firearm identification - used to determine whether the gun that is subject of the
investigation has the same gun used or fired.
35. Forensic Medicine - application of medical science to elucidate legal problems.
36. Forensic Science - involves the application of the sciences to answer questions of
interest to the legal system.
37. Fracture - comes from the Latin word “fractura” which means a break in the continuity of
the bone. It is also a combination of a break in the bone and soft tissue injury.
38. Frostbite - injury to body tissues caused by exposure to extreme cold, typically affecting
the nose, fingers, or toes and often resulting in gangrene.
39. Frostnip - the initial stages of frostbite.
40. Gynecology - the branch of physiology and medicine which deals with the functions and
diseases specific to women and girls, especially those affecting the reproductive system.
41. Hematoma - is a collection of blood outside of a blood vessel.
42. Homeostasis -means remaining stable or remaining the same.
43. Incision - a surgical cut made in skin or flesh.
44. Injury - is the damage to a biological organism caused by physical harm.
45. - Coup Injury - injury at the site of application of force.
46. - Contre-Coup Injury - injury opposite the site of application of force.
47. - Coup-Conre-Coup Injury - injury at the site and opposite the site of application of force.
48. - Locus Minoris Resistentiae - injury not at the site and not opposite the site of
application of force but at the site offering least resistance.
49. - Extensive Injury - injury on a greater area more than the site of application of force.
50. Integumentary system - is the organ system that protects the body from various kinds of
damage, such as loss of water or abrasion from outside. The system comprises the skin
and its appendages, including hair, scales, feathers, hooves, and nails.
51. Laceration - a deep cut or tear in skin or flesh. A wound that is produced by the tearing
of soft body tissue. This type of wound is often irregular and jagged.
52. Lazarus Syndrome - is also called Lazarus Phenomenon, is the spontaneous return of
circulation after failed attempts at resuscitation.
53. Lazarus Sign - or Lazarus reflex is a reflex movement in brain dead patients, which
causes them to briefly raise their arms and drop them crossed on their chests.
54. Legal Medicine - Branch of medicine which deals with the application of medical
knowledge to the purpose of law and in the administration of justice. Application of
medicine to legal cases.
55. Livor Mortis - is a settling of the blood in the lower (dependent) portion of the body,
causing a purplish red discoloration of the skin. From the Latin word "livor" - bluish color
and "mortis" - of death. Also known as post-mortem lividity.
56. Mayhem - intentional maiming of another person.
57. Mechanical Trauma - is an injury to any portion of the body from a blow, crush, cut, or
penetrating the wound.
58. Medical Evidence - is the means sanctioned by the rules of court of ascertaining in a
judicial proceeding the truth respecting a matter of fact.
59. Real Evidence/Autoptic - made known to the senses.
60. Testimonial Evidence - oral testimony under oath.
61. Medical Jurisprudence - knowledge of the law in relation to the practice of medicine.
62. Medico-Legal officer - (medical examiner) a physician who determines the cause of
injury/death/disease by examining the patient/cadaver and testify in court to aid in the
administration of justice.
63. Mental Deficiency – or mental retardation, is sub average intellectual ability present from
birth or early infancy. Intelligence is both determined by heredity and environment. In
most cases of mental deficiency, the cause is unknown.
64. Idiot – The idiot’s intelligence never exceeds that of a normal child over 2years old. The
IQ is between 0 – 20. This is usually congenital.
65. Imbecile – the imbecile’s intelligence is compared to a normal child from 2 –7 years old
and the IQ is 20 – 40.
66. Feeble Minded – his mentality is similar to that of a normal child between 7 – 12 years
old and an IQ of 40 – 70.
67. Mental Health Disorders – include disturbances in thinking, emotion, and behavior.
There is a complex interaction between the physical, psychological, social, cultural and
hereditary influences.
68. Mortal Wound - capable of causing death.
69. Muscular System - is an organ system consisting of skeletal, smooth and cardiac
muscles. It permits movement of the body, maintains posture, and circulates blood
throughout the body.
70. Mutilation - or maiming is an act of physical injury that degrades the appearance or
function of any living body.
71. Nervous System - consists of the brain, spinal cord, sensory organs, and all of the
nerves that connect these organs with the rest of the body.
72. Obstetrics - branch of medicine that deals with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum
period, including care of the newborn.
73. Paraffin test or Dermal Nitrate test – present on the skin of the hand or site of the wound
of entrance. This test is not conclusive because of fertilizers, cosmetics, cigarettes, urine
and other nitrogenous compounds with nitrates will give a positive reaction. A negative
test is also not conclusive. The test usually gives a positive result even after a lapse of
3days or even if the hands are subjected to ordinary washing.
74. Pathology - the science of the causes and effects of diseases, especially the branch of
medicine that deals with the laboratory examination of samples of body tissue for
diagnostic or forensic purposes.
75. Paulus Zacchias - (1584–1659) is the Father of Forensic Medicine.
76. Petechiae – a circumscribe extravasation of blood in the subcutaneous tissue.
77. Physical Injury - is the effect of some stimulus on the body. Physical injuries - include
those caused by mechanical trauma, heat and cold, electrical discharges, changes in
pressure, and radiation.
78. Mechanical trauma is an injury to any portion of the body from a blow, crush, cut, or
penetrating the wound.
79. Physics - The subject matter of physics includes mechanics, heat, light and other
radiation, sound, electricity, magnetism, and the structure of atoms.
80. Physiology - the branch of biology that deals with the normal functions of living
organisms and their parts.
81. Post-Mortem - (meaning after death) internal examination of the dead to determine the
cause of death.
82. - Ante-Mortem - before death.
83. Post-Mortem Caloricity - is the rise of temperature of the body after death due to rapid
and early putrefactive changes, usually in the first two hours.
84. Post Mortem Lividity - it occurs in most extensive areas of the most dependent portions
of the body.
85. Puncture Wound - is usually caused by a sharp pointy object such as a nail, animal
teeth, or a tack. This type of wound usually does not bleed excessively and can appear
to close up.
86. Putrefaction - or decomposition is the final stage following death, produced mainly by the
action of bacterial enzymes, mostly anaerobic organisms derived from the vowel. Other
enzymes are derived from fungi and sometimes from insects.
87. Mummification - is the preservation of a body.
88. Saponification – also called Adipocere Formation.
89. Maceration - Softening of the tissues after death by autolysis.
90. Scald - is a type of burn injury caused by hot liquids or gases.
91. Sex Crimes - generally involve illegal or coerced sexual conduct by one person towards
another.
92. Chaste – An unmarried woman who has had no carnal knowledge with men or that she
never voluntarily had unlawful sexual intercourse. These also denote the purity of mind
and innocence of heart.
93. Shrapnel - fragments of a bomb, shell, or other object is thrown out by an explosion.
94. Surgery - is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental
techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as
disease or injury, to help improvebodily function or appearance or to repair unwanted
ruptured areas.
95. Toxicology - the branch of science concerned with the nature, effects, and detection of
poisons.
96. Trauma - injury, a physical wound to the body caused by an external source.
97. Virgin – A woman who has had no carnal knowledge of man. Her genital organs have
not been altered by carnal connection.
98. Virginity - A condition of a female who has not experience sexual intercourse and whose
genital organs have not been altered by carnal connection and whose hymen is still
intact.
99. Wound - in legal medicine, it means strictly a solution of continuity. An injury to living
tissue caused by a cut, blow, or other impacts, typically one in which the skin is cut or
broken.
100. Open Wound - there is a break in the continuity
