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A place where the bodies of dead persons are kept temporarily pending identification or release for burial or autopsy.

A postmortem evaluation to determine cause of death.

The specific injury, trauma, or disease that directly caused the victim’s death.

What happens physiologically (inside the body) to result in death.

The circumstances that result in death, which are designated as natural or unnatural.

A group of organs in a body that work together to perform a specific function.

A group of organs in a body that work together to perform a specific function.

The time the medical examiner estimates that the death occurred.

The time of death recorded on the death certificate; based on when the body was found or physically pronounced dead.

the change in body temperature after death

pooling of the body following death that causes a purplish red discoloration of the skin; also referred to as lividity

the stiffening of joints and muscles after death

A naturally-occurring poison produced by living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, plants, insects, and algae.

Manufactured and extracted chemicals such as pesticides, cleaning agents, industrial emissions or by-products, mining by-products, etc. that are in our environment and produce adverse biological effects of any nature.

A process where atoms and/or molecules are rearranged to transform matter.

is your body’s use of acids and enzymes to break down foods into smaller molecules.

Physical digestion is the mechanical act of breaking down food into smaller parts, like when you chew.

The chemical reaction processes of breaking down molecules for energy and of using simple building blocks to build up more complex molecules needed for growth and repair.

A field of chemistry that tests non-biological samples, such as powders, pills, and other substances, to identify or quantify them.

The study of the microscopic anatomy of tissues. Also known as microanatomy.

The nervous system contains the brain, brain stem, spinal cord, and nerves. The nervous system is responsible for receiving, interpreting, and reacting to signals from inside and outside the body

A medical imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to take pictures of the soft tissues of the body.

A brain dysfunction caused by an outside force to the head.

A progressive degeneration, and/or death, of nerve cells caused by repeated head injuries, such as repeated concussions.