Forensic pathology is a branch of medicinal science which is focused on determining the person’s cause for death. There are a variety of forensic pathology techniques used today, all of which are continuously advancing thanks to technological improvements.

Functions of Forensic Pathologists
Forensic pathologists are, first and foremost, certified and licensed by the American Board of Pathology. These individuals are qualified to perform autopsies or any other examination on a corpse in order to determine cause and manner of death as well as answer all other questions related to the person’s identity and demise.

Forensic pathologists are also allowed to examine wounds, injuries, and tissue specimens to determine the approximate date the person had incurred certain wounds or diseases and detect the presence of any toxic substance.

Forensic pathologists commonly work in conjunction with the government during criminal investigations and can serve as expert witnesses at court. They are also known as police surgeons and forensic medical examiners.

Types of Forensic Pathology Techniques
Case details will determine which forensic pathology techniques will be used to produce the answers sought by the victim’s family and justice system.

Autopsy – Forensic pathologists are often assisted by mortuary technicians during autopsies. Ultimately, an autopsy will determine whether the cause of death was natural, an accident, homicide, suicide, or undeterminable. Corpses will arrive at the office of the forensic pathologist in a brand new body bag or wrapped in evidence sheets.

There are two types of examinations conducted during autopsies: external and internal. General physical characteristics, together with distinguishing features like scars and moles, will be taken note of. If the results of an external examination coincide with data found in the person’s previous medical records, history, and circumstances surrounding his death then the autopsy will no longer move on to the next level.

In an internal examination, a body block is used to position the corpse properly and to make it easier for the forensic pathologist to cut the chest open and examine internal body parts.

Various cuts are used in internal examinations. A Y-shaped cut is typically used when strangulation was suspected. A T-shaped incision is used mostly for aesthetic purposes or to make the body as presentable as possible for the funeral rites. In other cases, just one vertical cut is made starting from the middle of the person’s neck. Whichever cut is used, bleeding is minimal, if there’s any, since there is no blood pressure as the heart’s no longer functioning.

Forensic Dentistry or Odontology – Dental evidence taken from the teeth can help reveal the deceased person’s identification if pre-dental records provide a match. If the deceased person is still a child, dental evidence can reveal his age.

One major aspect of forensic dentistry is the assessment of bite marks. These marks can also help in revealing the identity of the perpetrator.

Forensic Toxicology – Experiments for forensic toxicology are rarely limited to visual tests since toxic reactions can also be internal. After analyzing existing data regarding the person’s lifestyle and medical history as well as the circumstances surrounding his death, the forensic toxicologist is tasked to accumulate as much evidence as possible from the crime scene to determine the cause and manner of death.

It is the forensic toxicologist’s duty to determine any unusual substances found in the person’s body. This is not easy since certain natural processes of the human body cause the form of certain chemicals to change. The substance may also have been diluted or be insufficient to make valid hypotheses.

Use of Samples – A blood sample can be taken from the victim and determine the presence of any toxic substance such as drugs and alcohol. Hair samples can also indicate drug use although the amount of drugs found in the person’s hair is affected by hair type more than the quantity of drugs consumed. Hair samples can also help determine the identity of the perpetrator and confirm his presence at the crime scene or his involvement with the deceased person.

Bullet Wounds – Examining bullet wounds require forensic pathologists to have an intermediate understanding of physics and expertise in ballistics and firearm identification. Analyses of powder burns will let a forensic pathologist know how far the shooter was from the victim and which direction the bullet came from. Entrance and exit points must also be determined. Possibly, the same forensic pathologist will be able to determine if all bullets used come from one or more guns and the type of guns used.

There are of course other forensic pathology techniques used today but in many cases, what have been presented above are adequate for determining the cause and manner of death, if not the identity of the perpetrator as well.