Listed below are terms which appear in italics throughout the site. Most words will be quite understandable to the majority of the mature audience, but for the convenience of those who aren't familiar with such forensic terms, here they are:

Definition references: Delbridge A et. al. Macquarie Dictionary: Revised Third Edition. 1997. Macquarie Press. Sydney.
Also, the definition facility in Google search.

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

A

Acetone - A colourless, highly flammable chemical compound (CH3)2CO used as an organic solvent, an ingredient in many lacquer thinner compounds and adhering liquids; used to remove lacquer adhered knife-cut stencils and lacquer type blockout from screen fabrics.

Adenine - A purine base, C5H5N5, present in all living cells, mainly as a subunit of nucleic acids.

Algae - Simple rootless plants that grow in sunlit waters in relative proportion to the amounts of nutrients available. They are food for fish and small aquatic animals.

Alias - A name that an entity uses in place of its real name, usually for the purpose of either anonymity or deception.

Alkali metal - Any of the monovalent metals of group I of the periodic table (lithium or sodium or potassium or rubidium or cesium or francium); "the hydroxides of the alkali metals are strongly alkaline".

Amplitude - Greatness of magnitude, maximum displacement from the equilibrium of a periodic wave.

Annihilation - The act of destroying something.

Anthropologist - A social scientist who specializes in anthropology - the study of bones.

Antibodies - A class of proteins (known as immunoglobulins) formed in the body in response to the presence of antigens (foreign proteins and other compounds), which bind to the antigen, inactivating it.

Antigens - Foreign substances in the body that are capable of causing disease. The presence of antigens in the body triggers an immune response, usually the production of antibodies. Antigens may be soluble substances, such as toxins and foreign proteins, or particulate, such as bacteria and tissue cells; however only the portion of the protein of polysaccharide molecule known as the antigenic determinant combines with antibody or a specific receptor on a lymphocyte.

Arson - The intentional and unlawful burning of a building or other property.

Arthritis - A medical condition affecting a joint or joints, causing pain, swelling and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic condition that can result in weakness, loss of mobility, and eventual destruction and deformity of the joints. Osteoarthritis (also called degenerative joint disease) usually affects people after middle age and is characterized by gradual loss of cartilage of the joints.

Asphyxiation - A medical term for suffocation, which leads to lack of oxygen in the blood.

Asymmetric - Not similar in size, shape, form or arrangement of parts on opposite sides of a line, point or plane.

Top^

B

Beryllium Oxide - (BeO) a poisonous ionic chemical substance used as an electrical insulator.

Bile - A digestive fluid made by the liver and stored in the gallbladder that helps digest fats.

Biodegradable - Such materials are any organic substances that can be broken down by microorganisms into simpler, more stable compounds. Most organic waste such as foods, paper, etc are biodegradable.

Bits - The smallest unit of information used on a computer. Bits have a single binary value either 0 or 1.

Botanist - One who studies the science of plants.

Bridge - A denture anchored to teeth on either side of missing teeth.

Top^

C

Canvas - Strong heavy cloth made from cotton, hemp or flax used with clothing, bags, paintings and curtains.

Cap - Crownwork: dental appliance consisting of an artificial crown for a tooth.

Carbon dioxide - A colourless, odourless gas that occurs naturally in the Earth's atmosphere. Significant quantities are also emitted into the air by fossil fuel combustion and deforestation. It is a greenhouse gas of major concern in the study of global warming. It is estimated that the amount in the air is increasing by 0.27% annually.

Carbon monoxide - A colourless, odourless, very toxic gas made up of carbon and oxygen, that burns to carbon dioxide with a blue flame and is formed as a product of the incomplete combustion of carbon.

Carcinogenic - Cancer causing.

Cartridge case - A cylindrical case of pasteboard, metal or the like, for holding a complete charge of powder, and often, also the bullet for a rifle, machine gun or small arm.

Catalyst - A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction, without being consumed or produced by the reaction. Enzymes are catalysts for many biochemical reactions.

Charge - A quantity of explosive to be set off at one time.

Chloroform - A substance used as an intermediate in the production of refrigerants, agrochemicals and fluoropolymers, produced mainly by the chlorination of methane. It is no longer used as an anaesthetic.

Choline - A B-fatty acid involved in the production of neurotransmitters in the brain that regulates mood, appetite, behavior, memory, etc. Most effective in phosphatidyl choline form. It is believed to help concentration and alertness. Studies indicate that it improves cognitive performance. Blood levels of choline decrease during prolonged exercise.

Chromatography - Chromatography is a method for separating mixtures based on differences in the speed at which they migrate over or through a stationary phase.

Chronological - Arranged in the order in which events happened; according to date.

Collarbone - Clavicle: the bone linking the scapula and sternum.

Composite - An image of a face made up from separate facial parts.

Coroner - A public official who investigates by inquest any death not due to natural causes.

Crown - An enamel cover (on teeth).

Cyanide - A chemical compound comprised of carbon and nitrogen. Cyanide is water-soluble and is used in ore processing solutions to extract gold from crushed rock.

Cytosine - A pyrimidine base, C4H5N3O, present in living cells, mainly in combined form, as in nucleic acids.

Top^

D

Deception - The act of deceiving.

Decode - To convert a coded message into understandable form using ordinary language.

Defuse - To remove the triggering device from (a weapon).

Diagnosis - To process of testing to identify other problems.

Digestion - The act or process by which food is digested i.e. prepared for use by the body in the stomach and intestines.

Top^

E

Electrocution - Death brought about by electricity.

Electroencephalograph - A machine that measures the electrical activity of the brain and transfers the information gathered to a report. Used as a diagnostic tool.

Electrophesis - A method of separating large molecules (such as DNA fragments or proteins) from a mixture of similar molecules. An electric current is passed through a medium containing the mixture, and each kind of molecule travels through the medium at a different rate, depending on its electrical charge and size. Separation is based on these differences. Agarose and acrylamide gels are the media commonly used for electrophoresis of proteins and nucleic acids.

Embezzlement - The fraudulent use of money or property which has been entrusted to one's care.

Encode - To convert plain text into a different form by means of a code.

Endothermic - Referring to a process that absorbs energy.

Enzyme - A protein that accelerates the rate of chemical reactions. Enzymes are catalysts that promote reactions repeatedly, without being damaged by the reactions.

Equilibrium - A balance: equality of distribution.

Top^

F

Femur - Also called the thighbone, is the long bone between the hip and the knee.

Fibre - A fine, threadlike piece; matter made from such threads.

Filling - A dental appliance consisting of any of various substances (as metal or plastic) inserted into a prepared cavity in a tooth; "when he yawned I could see the gold fillings in his teeth"; "an informal British term for `filling' is `stopping'.

Firing pin - A plunger in the firing mechanism of a gun that strikes the primer and thus ignites the propelling charge of a projectile.

Fluorescein - An orange-red water-soluble compound, C20H12O5 whose solutions in alkalis produce an orange colour and a green fluorescence. It is used an indicator and in dyes.

Fluorescent - A bright vivid colour that glows under a black light.

Forensic medicine - A branch of medical science that uses medical knowledge for legal purposes.

Formaldehyde - A pungent gas; in liquid form, it is used as an antiseptic, disinfectant and fixative for tissues.

Top^

G

Gas chromatographs - Diagrams representing the different speeds of various constituents in a substance, as they travel through a non-reactive gas.

Generalisation - The process of making statements about the general population on the basis of relevant research.

Glycerol - A three-carbon substance that forms the backbone of fatty acids in fats. Is a lubricant but has found little because of its tendency to rapidly absorb moisture.

Gravity - The force of attraction that causes objects to fall toward the centre of the earth.

Guanine - A purine base, C5H5N5O, present in all living cells, mainly in combined form, as in nucleic acids.

Top^

H

Habit - An established custom.

Haemoglobin - A haem protein responsible the red colouring of blood and for the transport of oxygen to the tissues.

Haemorrhage - To bleed severely.

Hard disk - A fast, high-capacity magnetic disk, completely enclosed in a protective case inside the computer, used for storing computer data.

Hologram - A laser-created photograph that creates a three-dimensional image; used as an anti-counterfeiting measure on bankcards.

Human genome - The complete set of human genes - approximately 100,000 total - which together contain information covering every aspect of human physical development and function.

Hydrocarbons - Organic chemical compounds of hydrogen and carbon atoms that form the basis of all petroleum products, they may exist as solids, liquids or gases.

Hyoid - A U-shaped bone at the base of the tongue that supports the tongue muscles.

Hypostasis - The pooling of blood as it accumulates at the lowest parts of the body, being pulled down by gravity; is a method of determining the position of the body at/after death.

Hypothermia - This situation occurs when the core temperature of one's body falls below normal. It is the failure of the body to maintain adequate production of heat under conditions of extreme cold.

Top^

I

Immunoassay -A test using antibodies to identify and quantify substances. Often the antibody is linked to a marker such as a fluorescent molecule, a radioactive molecule, or an enzyme.

Indent - A notch or dent left on paper due to the force from the tip of a pen when writing.

Infrared - Light that is so red humans cannot see it. A band of the electromagnetic spectrum between the visible and the microwave. Photons of infrared light are less energetic than photons of visible light.

Infrared spectroscopy (IR Spectroscopy)- A type of spectroscopy that uses the infrared portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. The infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum; electromagnetic wave frequencies below the visible range.

IP address - The numeric address of a computer on the Internet. An IP address is written as a set of four numbers separated by periods (each number can range from 0 to 255). An example of an IP address is 123.123.4.5.

Iris - The contractile circular diaphragm forming the coloured portion of the eye and containing a circular opening (the pupil) in its centre.

Top^

L

Lacerations - Anything that has been torn roughly for example - a rough cut.

Larvae - The young of any insect which goes through metamorphosis (changes in body structure) before becoming an adult.

Larynx - An irregularly shaped, musculocartilaginous tubular structure lined with mucous membrane, located at the top of the trachea and below the root of the tongue and the hyoid bone. It is the essential sphincter guarding the entrance into the trachea and functioning secondarily as the organ of voice.

Laser - Laser is the acronym of Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A device for producing a coherent, monochromatic, high intensity beam of radiation of a frequency within, or near to, the range of visible light.

Luminal spray - A substance used to enhance fingerprints.

Luminescence - Emission of light by chemical or electrical means.

Top^

M

Maggots - The larvae of flies and other insects that live on rotting food.

Magnetic field - All magnetic fields are created by moving electric charge. The single moving electron around a nucleus is a tiny electric current. These orbiting electrons create magnetic fields and their net effect is to provide the atom with a magnetic field. Magnetic fields are historically described in terms of their effect on electric charges. A moving electric charge, such as an electron, will accelerate in the presence of a magnetic field, causing it to change velocity and its direction of travel. An electrically charged particle moving in a magnetic field will experience a force (known as the Lorentz force) pushing it in a direction perpendicular to the magnetic field and the direction of motion. Also called magnetic flux.

Manufactured - Made by hand or machinery, especially on a large scale.

Mass spectrometers - An instrument used to both measure and analyse molecules under study. The process involves introducing enough energy into a target molecule to cause its ionisation and disintegration. The resulting fragments are then analyzed, based on the mass to charge ratio and produces a "molecular fingerprint."

Mass spectrometry - This technique can be used to both measure and analyze molecules under study. It involves introducing enough energy into a target molecule to cause its ionization and disintegration. The resulting fragments are then analyzed, based on the mass/ charge ratio to produce a "molecular fingerprint."

Mitochondrial - Of or relating to mitochondrions, one of the tiny granules (grains; particles), present in living cells, regarded as responsible for respiration and energy production.

Top^

N

Naked eye - The eye, unaided by any optical instrument that alters the power of vision or alters the apparent size or distance of objects; "it is not safe to look directly at the sun with the naked eye".

Natural radiation - Radiation that is always present in the environment from such sources as cosmic rays and radioactive materials in rocks and soils. Also known as background radiation.

Nitrogen - Nitrogen is a gaseous element that occurs in air (78% of air volume). It is an essential component of proteins and nucleic acids in living organisms.

Noble gas - Any of a group of rare gases that include helium, xenon, and sometimes radon and that exhibit great stability and extremely low reaction rates. They are often referred to as inert gases.

Nucleus - A part of the cell containing DNA and RNA and responsible for growth and reproduction.

Top^

O

Occiput - Rear portion of crown. In picture it is referred to as the hindhead.

Odontologist - One who practices the science of teeth.

Oesophagus - A tube connecting the back of the mouth to the stomach; a part of the digestive system.

Optical - Optical means something that pertains or is designed to assist sight; pertaining to or using light.

Ossification (osteogenesis)- A three-stage process by which bone is formed. The first step is the formation of a mesh of collagen fibers. Next, the body produces a "cement" substance (polysaccharide). Finally, small crystals of calcium salts are deposited into the cement to form bone.

Oxidation - The process of oxidizing; the addition of oxygen to a compound with a loss of electrons; always occurs accompanied by reduction.

Oxygen - A colourless, odourless gas that makes up about 20 percent of the air we breathe; it is essential to life because it is used for the chemical reactions that occur in the cells of the body.

Top^

P

PCR (polymerase chain reaction) - A method for amplifying a DNA base sequence using a heat stable polymerase and two 20-base primers, one complementary to the (+) strand at one end of the sequence to be amplified and the other complementary to the (-) strand at the other end. Because the newly synthesized DNA strands can subsequently serve as additional templates for the same primer sequences, successive rounds of primer annealing, strand elongation, and dissociation produce rapid and highly specific amplification of the desired sequence. PCR also can be used to detect the existence of the defined sequence in a DNA sample.

Peroxidase - Any of a group of enzymes (occurring especially in plant cells) that catalyse the oxidation of a compound by a peroxide.

Perpendicular - Vertical or upright.

Petty crime - A small crime such as minor theft, trespassing etc.

pH level - A measure of acidity or alkalinity as of soil, water etc. on a scale running from 1 (extreme acidity) to 14 (extreme alkalinity), equal to the negative logarithm of the concentration of the negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion in gram atoms per litre. So a pH of 5 indicates a concentration of 10-5 gram atoms of hydrogen in one litre.

Phenol - A highly poisonous, caustic crystalline chemical compound derived from coal tar or plant tar or manufactured synthetically. It has a distinctive, pungent odour and, in solution, is a powerful disinfectant.

Phonetics - The study of the production, transmission, and reception of speech sounds.

Phosphatase - Any of numerous enzymes that catalyse the hydrolysis of esters of phosphoric acid and are important in the absorption and metabolism of carbohydrates, nucleotides, and phospholipids and in the calcification of bone.

Pigment - Organic substance found in plant and animal cells that creates colouring.

Pneumographs - Rubber tubes filled with air.

Polygraph - A medical instrument that records several physiological processes simultaneously (e.g. pulse rate and blood pressure and respiration and perspiration).

Polymer - A natural or synthetic compound of high molecular weight composed of long chains of repeating units, each relatively light and simple.

Prosecutor - The lawyer that represents the government.

Protocol - A set of formal rules describing how to transmit data, especially across a network. Low-level protocols define the electrical and physical standards to be observed, bit- and byte-ordering and the transmission and error detection and correction of the bit stream. High-level protocols deal with the data formatting, including the syntax of messages, the terminal-to-computer dialog, character sets, and sequencing of messages.

Top^

R

Radius - The outer and slightly shorter of the two bones of the human forearm.

Ransom - An exchange or buy back for money; under threat.

Refractive index - A measure of the degree through which light is refracted when passing through a particular material compared to a vacuum.

Residue - Matter that remains after something has been removed.

RH Factor - Any of one or more genetically determined antigens usu. present in the red blood cells of humans and higher animals and capable of inducing intense immunogenic reactions -called also rhesus factor.

Ridge - A long narrow natural elevation or striation.

Rigor mortis - The stiffening of the body muscles after death.

Ritual - Stereotyped behaviour.

Root canal - Also called endodontic treatment, it is the cleaning out the inside nerve of a tooth that is heavily decayed, and replacing it with a material seals the inside of the root so infection cannot get back in.

Top^

S

Scanning electronic microscope - A microscope that uses electrons instead of light to create an image of higher magnifications than with a light microscope.

Seminal (acid) - Pertaining to or containing or consisting of semen; "seminal fluid".

Serrated - Containing sharply pointed teeth.

Server - A computer system or program that provides service across a network. The service may be file access, login access, file transfer, printing and so on.

Solvents - Liquids, usually petroleum based, that can dissolve solids and keep them in solution. May contribute to pollution through evaporation.

Spectroscope - An instrument that separates light into it's different wavelengths. It is the instrument that permits us to identify the elements in a particular light source.

Sphygmomanometer - An instrument used to measure blood pressure.

Spina Bifida - A condition in which the spinal cord does not close over the nerve column during the prenatal period. The amount of the spinal column that remains open determines how many nerves will be affected. It may involve loss of sensation and severe muscle weakness in the lower part of the body. This condition is often associated with an abnormal buildup of pressure of spinal fluid in the brain which can produce retardation unless it is surgically treated.

Spleen - A highly vascular, glandlike but ductless organ, situated in humans near the cardiac end of the stomach, in which the blood undergoes certain corpuscular changes.

Stippling - This is a method of paint application where the artist applies a series of dots by dabbing with the end of the brush, which is held at right angles to the picture surface.

Strangulation - The condition of having respiration stopped by compression of the air passage.

Subconscious - Subconscious mind: psychic activity just below the level of awareness.

Swap file - A disk file or partition used to temporarily store information when system memory runs low.

Symmetric - Having similarity in size, shape, and relative position of corresponding parts.

Synthetic - Man-made, rather than occurring naturally.

Top^

T

Thermo luminescence - Luminescence produced by heat.

Thin-layer chromatography - A chromatographic procedure used to identify drugs of abuse in urine using a thin layer of material such as silicon as a carrier. The separated substances are dyed, and the resultant colour and migration patterns are used to identify the drugs in question.

Thymine - A white crystalline pyrimidine base, C5H6N2O2 which occurs in DNA and is one of the four main units upon which the genetic code is based.

Tissue - A part of an organism consisting of an aggregate of cells having a similar structure and function.

Tomography - The technique of obtaining an X-ray picture of a selected layer in an object.

Trauma - A physical injury or wound caused by an external force of violence, which may cause death or permanent disability. Trauma is also used to describe severe emotional or psychological shock or distress.

Top^

U

Ultraviolet - Of or relating to the range of invisible radiation wavelengths from about 4 nanometers, on the border of the x-ray region, to about 380 nanometers, just beyond the violet in the visible spectrum.

Ultraviolet light - Radiation lying in the ultraviolet range; wave lengths shorter than light but longer than X rays.

Top^

V

Vagus nerve - Either of two cranial nerves extending through neck into thorax and the upper part of the abdomen - a pneumogastric nerve.

Vasectomy - Surgical procedure that removes all or part of the vas deferens (usually as a means of sterilization); is sometimes reversible.

Verdict - The finding or answer given to the court by the jury.

Vertebrae - One or twenty-four moveable segments of the human spinal column. Two vertebrae adjacent to each other form a motor unit.

Top^

W

Watermark - A translucent name or design molded into the paper during the manufacturing process, usually in the border area; more visible when held up to a light.

Wisdom teeth - The third molar teeth, the last in each quadrant.

Top^

X

X-rays - Invisible, highly penetrating electromagnetic radiation of a much shorter wavelength than visible light, discovered in 1895 by Wilhelm C. Roentgen. Most applications of X rays are based on their ability to pass through matter. They are dangerous in that they can destroy living tissue, causing severe skin burns on human flesh exposed for too long a time. This property is applied in x-ray therapy to destroy diseased cells. See Ionising radiation.