FORENSIC MEDICINE

Q and A

Presented by

Dr. JEZREEL VICENTE, RC, CCS, CSP, CST, CSMS

Faculty of Ph.D Crim, M.S.Crim, B.S.Crim & B.F.Sci
Program Head, Forensic Science, University of Baguio
VP for Luzon, PCAP

1. Who is the father of medicine?

A. Hippocrates
B. Paulus Zacchias (Paolo Zacchia)
C. Hans Gross
D. Etneciv Leerzej

2. Who is the father of FORENSIC MEDICINE?

A. Hippocrates
B. Paulus Zacchias (Paolo Zacchia)
C. Hans Gross
D. Etneciv Leerzej

3. In Philippine setting history of forensic medicine, who published his book on Legal
Medicine that was entitled “Manual De Medicina Domestica”?
A. Dr. Rafael Mas
B. Dr. Gregorio Lantin
C. Dr. Pedro Solis
D. Dr. Enrique Delos Santos

4. The head of the NBI Medicolegal section in 1947?

A. Dr. Rafael Mas
B. Dr. Gregorio Lantin
C. Dr. Pedro Solis
D. Dr. Enrique Delos Santos
Dr. Gregorio Lantin – Headed the DI Medicolegal section
Dr. Pedro Solis – current famous author on Forensic Medicine

5. It is the branch of medical science that deals with the application of medical
knowledge.
A. Legal Medicine
B. Medical Jurisprudence
C. Forensic Medicine
 D. Medical evidence

Legal Medicine (Forensic medicine.) - Includes the use of clinical, medical and
paramedical sciences to elucidate legal problems.
Medical Jurisprudence – branch of law that regulates medical profession.
Medical evidence – means sanctioned by the rules of court ascertaining in a judicial
proceeding the truth respecting a a matter of fact wherein scientific medical knowledge
is necessary.

6. Death is the complete cessation of all vital functions without possibility of

resuscitation. What death is the absence of electrical brain activity?
A. Brain death
B. Somatic/Clinical death
C. Molecular/Cellular death
D. Apparent/State/Suspended death

Somatic/Clinical – complete, persistent and continuous cessation of vital functions of the

brain, heart and lungs.
Molecular/Cellular – from 3-6 hours, cells will die.
Apparent/State/Suspended – NOT really death, transient loss of consciousness,
temporary cessation of vital functions.

7. The following are signs of death, except _____.

A. Cessation of heart action and circulation
B. Cessation of respiration
C. Insensibility of the body and loss of power to move.
D. Livor mortis

Another sign of death is ALGOR MORTIS which refers to the Cooling of the Body.

8. On duration of death, this refers to the Stiffening of the body.

A. Rigor mortis
B. Post mortem lividity
C. Stage of decomposition
D. None of these

Rigor mortis – 3-6 hours, Fully developed in 12 hrs.

Post mortem lividity – 3-6 hrs after death, the accumulation of blood in the most
dependent portion of the body.
Stage of decomposition – maybe inferred from the degree of decomposition.

9. On the onset of decomposition, watery, foul smelling froth coming from the nostrils
and mouth. The body is soft, and there is the presence of cavitations when pressure is
applied on the skin. All these are observable in _____.
A. More than 24 hours
B. 6-8 hours
 C. 1-2 years
D. 24-48 hours

More than 24 hours – Maggots are present

6-8 hours – Blood clots inside the blood vessels
1-2 years – soft tissues of the body may disappear

10. Algor mortis came from the Latin ALGOR = Coolness (Cooling), Livor mortis from
the Latin LIVIDUS = Bluish (Stiffening), Rigor mortis from the Latin RIGOR = Stiffening
and mort death). One of the Signs of Death is Post mortem caloricity which is the rise of
temperature of the body in the first _____.
A. 1 hour
B. 2 hours
C. 3 hours
D. It depends

11. Considering the chronological sequence of putrefactive changes occurring in

tropical region, if body has Rigor mortis, hypostasis and greenish discoloration of the
caecum, How many hours the body is dead?
A. 12 hours
B. 24 hours
C. 48 hours
D. 72 hours

12. If greenish discoloration is over whole abdomen and spreading to chest, the body is
dead for _____.
A. 24 hours
B. 48 hours
C. 72 hours
D. One week

48 hours – Trunk bloated and Ova flies are seen

72 hours – whole body is swollen and disfigured
One week – Soft viscera putrefied
One month – Body skeleton

13. When body is submerged in water, there is very little change if water is cold for the
first 4-5 days. What happens in its 5-7 days?
A. Skin on the hands and feet become swollen and bleached
B. The face appears softened
C. Skin wrinkled, scrotum and penis distended with gas, nails and hair still intact.
D. Abdomen distended, skin of hands and feet come off with the nails like a glove.
B = 1-2 weeks
C = 4 weeks
D = 6-8 weeks
14. What do you call the reddish discoloration during the process of decomposition?
A. Marbolization
B. Mummification
C. Maceration
D. None of these
Mummification – dehydration of the body, occurs when body is buried in hot place, dry
atmosphere and with access to hot air.
Maceration – softening of the tissues when in a fluid medium. Absence of putrefactive
microorganisms.

15. As provided by Rule 131, Sec 5, Rules of Court, a person is presumed dead after
_____.
A. 4 years
B. 5 years
C. 6 years
D. 7 years

4 years – On board of a vessel lost during sea voyage. Members of police and armed
forces who took part in a war.

16. In the presumption of survivorship from the probabilities resulting to strength and
age of the sexes. If both is under the age of 15, _____ is presumed to have survived.
A. Older
B. Younger
C. Either
D. Neither
Both is above 60 = Survivor is the Younger
Under 15 vs Over 60 = Survivor is Older
Both be over 15 and under 60, sexes are different = Survivor is the Male
Under 15 or 60 = Survivor is the Older

17. What do you call the external examination of the corpse without incision but blood
and body fluid maybe collected.
A. Autopsy
B. Crime Scene Investigation (CSI)
C. Post mortem examination
D. Medicolegal or Official autopsy

18. As to classification of violent death, this is called reckless imprudence, negligence,

lack of skill or foresight.
A. Accidental death
B. Negligent death
C. Suicidal death
D. Parricidal death
19. This is the deliberate and painless acceleration of death of a person usually
suffering from an incurable or distressing disease.
A. Death
B. Violent death
C. Euthanasia
D. Murder

20. A kind of euthanasia where means to shorten the life of the victim WITH OR
WITHOUT CONSENT is done.
A. Active euthanasia
B. Passive euthanasia
C. Orothanasia
D. Dysthanasia
Passive euthanasia – no means to accelerate death, but it’s the natural cause of the
disease to cause the death.
Orothanasia – incurable ill person is allowed to die without operation or treatment
Dysthanasia – an attempt to extend the life of a person

21. The following are ways of performing Euthanasia, except:

A. Administration of lethal dose or poison
B. Injection of air into the blood stream
C. Depriving the child of nutrition
D. Removal of patient

NO EXCEPTION, INCLUDE THE FF:

E. Application of electric current
F. Failure to perform tracheotomy
G. Failure to perform transfusion
H. Over dose of sedatives

22. Heat may produce burn on skin, strong light produces sore eyes or blindness,
change in atmospheric pressure is hypobarism, electrical energy and chemical energy
is burn. Cold produces _____.
A. Shock
B. Burns
C. Skin disease
D. Frostbite

23. Any break in the natural continuity of any tissue produced by physical violence.
A. Wound
B. Mortal wound
C. Non-mortal wound
D. Your wound

24. A sharp edged instrument produces _____ wound.

A. Punctured
 B. Incised
C. Stab
D. Laceration

Punctured – sharp pointed

Stab – sharp pointed and sharp edged
Lacerated –Blunt Instrument

28. Lets go to pen wounds. These are wounds which appear to be scratches, graze,
impression mark and friction marks.
A. Stab
B. Lacerated
C. Abrasion
D. Incised
Stab – SHARP POINTED and SHARP EDGED
Lacerated – tear, rupture, stretch (BLUNT instrument)
Incised – knife, razor, bolo (SHARP EDGED)
Punctured – Nail, Ballpen (SHARP POINTED)

25. An injury as to depth of wound can be superficial (only layers) and deep (beyond the
layers of skin). So it can be penetrating and perforating. What do you mean by the
latter?
A. With entrance, no exit wound
B. With entrance and exit
C. With exit only
D. With an entrance and two exits
Penetrating – with entrance, no exit.
Perforating – with entrance & exit.

26. Its is the circumscribed extravasation of the blood underneath the mucous
membrane.
A. Petechiae
B. Contusion
C. Hematoma
D. Kurad
Contusion (Black eye) – effusion of blood into the tissue underneath the skin.
Application of BLUNT instrument.
Hematoma (Bukol) – blood cyst, blood tumor

27. This is a form of hematoma only that extent of extravasation of blood is wider but
thinner.
A. Petecchiae
B. Hematoma
C. Ecchymosis
D. Open wound
29. There is no vital reaction of the skin to the wound received, no evidence of profuse
hemorrhage, the injuries are considered _____.
A. Ante-mortem
B. Post-mortem
C. Souvenir bullet
D. Bullet embolism

30. What do you call the act of looping or cutting of any part of the living body of a
person?
A. Injuring
B. Mutilating
C. Cutting
D. Beheading

31. It is the so-called miner’s cramps, fireman’s crams and stoker’ cramps because of
involuntary contraction of muscles and due to dehydration and excessive loss of
chlorides by sweating.
A. Heat cramps
B. Heat exhaustion
C. Heat stroke
D. None of the above
Heat exhaustion – heart failure caused by heat and precipitated by warm clothing.
Heat stroke – direct exposure to sun, ill ventilated places with dry and high temperature.

32. On the medicolegal aspects of sex crimes, VIRGINITY is sometimes the issue
specially on the victim of sexual attack. What do you call a person whose body is pure
and had no sexual intercourse, although her mind and heart is impure.
A. Virtuous female
B. Moral virgin
C. Physical virgin
D. Virgo Intacta
Moral virgin – don’t know the nature of sexual life. Didn’t experience sexual relations.
Children below puberty.
Physical virgin – woman who reach maturity and is conscious of the nature of sexual life
but has not experienced sexual intercourse.
Virgo Intacta – A woman who had several sexual intercourse and No Child or Offspring

33. In a decision in the case of US v Alvarez, 1 Phil. 242, the presumption of virginity
includes one below.
A. The woman is single
B. Unmarried and of good reputation
C. Woman with age of below puberty
D. All of these.

34. The kind of virginity where hymen is intact.

A. Moral virginity
 B. Physical virginity
C. True physical virginity
D. False physical virginity
Moral virginity – children below puberty age
Physical virginity – reached physical maturity but didn’t experience sexual intercourse.
False physical virginity – hymen is unruptured, orifice is elastic to admit 2 or 3 fingers.

35. On the medico-legal aspects of sex crimes, this refers to the status of a woman who
permits any form of sexual liberties as long as they abstain from rupturing the hymen by
sexual act.
A. Moral virginity
B. Demi-virginity
C. Physical virginity
D. False physical virginity

36. On breasts, what breast that contains contour lines which are not straight but form
part of half circle or half of sphere?
A. Conical breast
B. Hemispherical breast
C. Infantile/Flat breast
D. Pendulous breast
Conical breast – similar to a cone.
Infantile/Flat breast – shows no definite shape. Breast is slightly elevated.
Pendulous breast – skin of breast is loos and can swing.
NOTE:
Breast condition is not reliable means of bass of virginity.

37. What is the V-shape appearance of the two labia unite posteriously?
A. Fourchette
B. Perineum
C. Parturient
D. Some of these

Parturient - refers to breastfeeding mothers

38. What do you call the rupture of hymen through sexual intercourse?
A. Defloration
B. Juxtaposition
C. Collation
D. Surrender

39. Can sexual intercourse cause death?

A. Yes
B. No
C. True
D. False
Death of the male partner – natural cause, during masturbation, defensive act of the
victim.
Death of the female partner – oral sex, cunnilingus, suffocation, sadist, infection(AIDS),
hemorrhage.
Death of both partners – presence of carbon monoxide or the homicide suicide pact.

40. This is one of the universal crimes. As a general rule, committed by one against
opposite sex.
A. Rape
B. Murder
C. Homicide
D. Sexual assault

41. Under Article 266-A of RPC, it provides the following, except.

A. Through force or intimidation
B. Victim is deprived of reason
C. By fraudulent machination/abuse of authority
D. No exception

Under 12 – Statutory rape

Marital Rape – between spouses
Art 266-B RPC – Insertion of any object into any opening or orifice of the victim
constitutes rape.

43. Generally, can a woman be raped while she is on her natural sleep?
A. Yes, but improbable
B. No, impossible
C. Yes
D. No
To a Virgin – its very difficult to happen
To a woman who has given birth or a woman who has several sexual intercourse is
possible.

44. The corpus delicti for the crime of rape is _____.

A. Victim
B. Sperm
C. Loss of virginity
D. Medico-legal report

45. The law of the Philippines on Population control. It states that abortion is an
unacceptable practice.
A. PD 78
B. PD 79
C. PD 80
D. PD 89
46. What do you call the civil status of the child in relation to his/her mother or father.
A. Paternity
B. Filiation
C. Infanticide
D. Incest

Paternity – father to his child

47. The interval between the termination of labor (delivery) to the complete return of the
reproductive organ in its normal pregnant state-last from 6-8 weeks. What do you call
this process?
A. Pregnancy
B. Delivery
C. Puerperium
D. Abortion

48. Fingerprints of two persons can be similar. Can DNA profile of two persons can be
identical?
A. Yes
B. No
C. Probably
D. Possibly

49. The unplanned drop in the pressure of a sealed system, such as an aircraft cabin,
and typically results from human error, material fatigue, engineering failure, or impact,
causing a pressure vessel to vent into its lower-pressure surroundings or fail to
pressurize at all.
A. Barotrauma
B. Mutilation
C. Shock wave
D. Decompression

50. Is physical damage to body tissues caused by a difference in pressure between a

gas space inside, or in contact with the body, and the surrounding.
A. Barotrauma
B. Mutilation
C. Shock wave
D. Decompression

Presented by

Dr. JEZREEL VICENTE, RC, CCS, CSP, CST, CSMS

Faculty of Ph.D Crim, M.S.Crim, B.S.Crim & B.F.Sci
Program Head, Forensic Science, University of Baguio
VP for Luzon, PCAP