This document defines key terms used in forensic science. It lists 19 terms related to forensic pathology, anthropology, entomology, odontology, psychiatry, and science. Some terms describe post-mortem processes like algor mortis and rigor mortis. Others define forensic specialties or relate to evidence analysis and expert testimony in criminal cases. The document also lists several important historical figures who advanced techniques in fingerprint analysis, bullet matching, blood analysis and the concept of trace evidence exchange.

1. Forensic Science
Vocabulary Unit 1

2. 1. Algor mortis - The gradual cooling of the
body after death
2. Autopsy - A dissection and examination of
the body, often to determine why the person
died.
3. Expert witness - Someone whom the court
deems has special knowledge relevant to the
case, generally knowledge an ordinary
person would not have.

3. 4. Forensic anthropology - Specializes in
the identification and examination of
skeletal remains.
5. Forensic entomology Uses the study of
insects to help criminal investigations.
6. Forensic odontology - Provides insight
into the identification of individuals
through their teeth.

4. 7. Forensic pathology - Studies sudden,
unexplained, and violent deaths by using
autopsies to determine the cause of death in
an individual.
8. Forensic psychiatry - Focuses on the
relationship between human behavior and
criminal justice.
9. Forensic science, or forensics - The
application of science to the criminal justice
system.

5. 10.Francis Galton - Showed the uniqueness of
fingerprints and how they could be used for
identification.
11. Calvin Goddard - Found a way of using a
comparison microscope to improve this
technique to better match bullets.
12. Leone Lattes - Figured out a way to
determine the type of blood from a dried
bloodstain and began using the new test to
criminal investigations.

6. 13. Liver Mortis - This bodily condition happens
as the blood stops pumping through the body
and settles in the body parts lowest to the
ground.
14.Edmond Locard - Showed the issue of crosscontamination.
15. Locard’s Exchange Principle - States that
there is an exchange of materials when two
objects come into contact with each other.

7. 16. Mathieu Orfila - Known as the father of
toxicology.
17. Pathology A science that deals with disease.
18. Rigor Mortis - Rigidity that occurs within 24
hours after death and goes away after about 36
hours.
19. Testimony - A verbal statement given under
oath.