Instruments used in forensics

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Instruments used in Forensics, including autopsy dissections are as follows: [1]

Contents

[edit] Instrument list

Instrument Uses
Autopsy table for placing and fixing the corpse
Refrigerators for preservation of the corpse
Dissection scissors used to hold or move structures
Arterial & jugular tubes to draw or drain out all the blood before replacing it with embalming fluids like formaldehyde for preservation of structures as practiced in Anatomy
Head rest to elevate the head
Ropes to tie the corpse in places so that it does not change posture during dissection
Rubber gloves protective; vide link
Goggles protective; vide link
Jackets, aprons, etc. protective; vide link
Autopsy saws and blades to cut the skin or tough structures like bones
Towel clamps to hold towels in place
Skull breaker or often a (hammer and chisel) to break open the vault of the skull
Bone saw for cutting bones
Sternal saw for cutting into the chest of the body by cutting the sternum
Dissecting knife sharp cutting instruments
Toothed forceps for tearing or holding structures
Mallet used as a hammer
Autopsy hammer used just as a hammer
Skull key a T-shaped chisel used as a lever while removing skull cap[2]
Brain knife to cleanly cut the brain
Rib shears to cut through the ribs while opening the chest[3]
Scalpel for sharp cutting
Dissecting scissors for sharp cutting
Speculum for vaginal and rectal examinations
Non-absorbable sutures usually nylon to close the body cavities and sutures it
Postmortem needles large thick needles for suturing the skin after an autopsy to return the body to a natural looking state before handing it over
Medical syringes for fluid aspiration
Foley catheter for evacuation or irrigation of the bladder to collect a urine sample
Nasogastric tube for nasogastric aspiration of stomach contents; usually it is not used
Water bath for flotation tests to detect presence of gas, specially for infants (lungs, intestine) as a sign of postpartum life
Specimen jars/envelopes/packets preservation of material evedence
Swabs collecting smears
Metacarpal saw vide: External link; a bone saw
Double-ended probe used for probing
Tongue tie to tie away the tongue so that it doesn't fall back into to pharynx
Formaldehyde primary preservative for Anatomy; vide link
saturated Common salt solution / Rectified spirit primary preservative for Autopsy; vide link
Osteometric board to measure the length of (usually dried) bones
X-ray boxes to view X-ray images
Fingerprint set to collect fingerprints; vide link

Serological, chemical and genetic testings are done by the respective people of these branches.

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