Abdomen — Portion of the body between the thorax (chest area) and pelvic area.

Abdominal cavity — Contains the stomach, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, and most of the large and small intestines. The kidneys, ureters, and adrenal glands lie deep in the cavity.

Abdomino-pelvic cavity — Portion of the ventral cavity below the diaphragm consisting of the abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity.

Abortion — Uterus empties prematurely. Criminal abortion is willful production of a woman's miscarriage by drugs, instruments, or any other means not authorized by law.

Abrasion — An injury to the skin in which the superficial epithelial layer of the skin (the epidermis) is removed due to friction against a rough surface with resultant scraping away of the superficial portions of the epidermis; wearing away of the skin in small shreds by friction.

Abrasion collar — The circular perforation and blackening effect on the edges of the skin as the bullet passes through the skin.

Accident — An unforeseen occurrence, especially one of an injurious character.

Acid phosphatase — An enzyme found in the kidneys, serum, semen, and prostate gland. Acid phosphatase is found in high concentrations in semen. It is most useful as an indicator of recent sexual intercourse.

Acute — Sharp or severe.

Adhesions — Places where the tissue adheres to the skin, normally found at previous operation scars.

Adhesive lifter — Any variety of adhesive-coated materials or tapes used to lift fingerprints or footwear impressions. Adhesive lifts are primarily used to lift powdered impressions from nonporous surfaces

Adipocere — Waxy, soap-like substance formed during the decomposition of animal bodies buried in moist places. It consists principally of insoluble salts of fatty acids. Also called "grave wax." Composed of oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids.

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Adrenals — Either of two secretory organs perched atop the kidneys. Each consists of two parts: the cortex and the medulla, which secret hormones.

AIDS — Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HTLV-3). A disease involving a defect in cell-mediated immunity. Usually transmitted through sexual contact or exposure to contaminated blood.

Airborne pathogens — Infectious disease causing microorganisms, which may be present in biological fluids.

Allele — Alternative forms of a gene, e.g., an allele for blue eyes.

Alternate light source (ALS) — Produces a high-intensity light in the visible light spectrum. The wavelengths of light range from ultraviolet to infrared. Different wavelengths can be used to facilitate the recovery of microscopic evidence not ordinarily detectible by the naked eye, such as latent prints, hairs, fibers, blood, and other body fluids.

Ambient temperature — The temperature of the air circulating around the crime scene.

Amnesia — Lack or loss of memory, especially for past experiences.

Anal intercourse — Insertion of one partner's penis into another partner's rectum.

Anatomy — Study of the structure of the human body.

Anemia — Insufficient oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

Anesthetics — A group of drugs capable of producing localized or general loss of sensation. Examples: (1) chloroform, a heavy, colorless liquid with a characteristic odor and taste; and (2) ether, a colorless volatile liquid with penetrating odor.

Aneurysm — A sac formed by the dilation of the walls of an artery or a vein and filled with blood.

Angina — Spasmodic pain.

Angina pectoris — Spasmodic pain in chest caused by sudden decrease of blood supply to the heart muscle.

Anoxia — Total oxygen deprivation.

Antemortem — Before death.

Anterior — (Ventral) The front. Indicates the front or belly side of the body; the toes are anterior or ventral.

Antitoxin — A substance found in the blood serum and in other body fluids which is specifically antagonistic to some particular toxin.

Anus — The distal end and outlet of the alimentary canal.

Aorta — The great trunk artery, which carries blood from the heart to be distributed by branch arteries throughout the body.

Aortic valve — A valve in the heart between the left ventricle and the aorta.

Arachnoid membrane — Thin covering of the brain and spinal cord.

Areola — The pigmented ring around the nipple of the breast.

Arrhythmia — Any deviation from the normal pattern of the heartbeat.

Arsenic — A medicinal and poisonous element; a brittle, lustrous, graying solid, with garlic odor.

Artery — Any one of the vessels through which the blood passes from the heart to the various parts of the body.

ASHD (arteriosclerotic heart disease) — Hardening of the arteries; frequent in old age and resulting from the accumulation of fat in the arteries.

Asphyxia — The end stage of significant interference with the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, as in suffocation.

Aspiration — Breathing or drawing in of a substance into the respiratory tract, blocking same. Aspiration of vomitus: breathing or drawing vomitus into the respiratory tract, blocking same.

Asthma — Wheezing and coughing, usually caused by allergies affecting the bronchi or air passages to the lungs.

Atomized blood — Patterns of blood that appear as a fine mist on a surface.

Atrium of the heart — One of the two upper chambers of the heart. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the superior vena cava, the inferior vena cava, and the coronary sinus. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the pulmonary veins. Blood is empted into the ventricles from the atria during diastole. Auto — A combining form meaning self.

Autoeroticism — Arousal and satisfaction of sexual emotion within or by oneself through fantasy and/or genital stimulation.

Autolysis — The breakdown of cells and organs from the aseptic chemical process caused by intracellular enzymes.

Autopsy — The internal examination of the body after death.

Autoradiograph — The autoradiograph or AUTORAD is the final product in a DNA probe. The nylon membrane, which has been probed by the radioactive marker, is placed against a piece of x-ray film and exposed for several days. Black bands appear where the radioactive probes stick to the fragments.

Autosadism — Sexual gratification through self-inflicted pain.

Avulsion — The separation, by tearing, of any part of the body from the whole.

B.A.C. (body alcohol content) — Refers to the percentage of alcohol in the body.

Barbiturates — Depressant medicines prescribed by doctors; common in suicide by overdose.

Bases — The chemical units (adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine, in humans) whose order in DNA molecules governs the genetic code.

Bestiality — Use of animals for sexual arousal (includes intercourse with animals as well as training the animal to lick or rub the human partner). This sexual disorder is clinically referenced in DSM-IV as zoophilia.

Biliary tract — Of or pertaining to bile or gall bladder and its ducts, which transport bile.

Biohazard bag — A plastic bag with the biohazard logo or insignia imprinted on it. All items exposed to blood or biological fluids that may contain contamination from diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, and or other viruses should be placed in this type of receptacle for proper disposal at an approved biohazard site.

Biological fluids — Blood, semen, saliva, vaginal fluid, urine, mucous, perspiration, etc.

Bitch — In prison slang, a feminine looking woman who is used sexually, as "insertee," by tougher females. In gay male slang, a general term of abuse for a gay male.

Bladder — A membranous sac serving as a receptacle for secretions. The urinary bladder.

Blow back — Minute particles of blood and tissue found in and/or on the barrel, the cylinder, or trigger guard of a weapon when the weapon has been in contact with the victim's skin. Blow back is generally associated with gunshot wounds when the weapon is placed tightly to the head or other portion of the body, especially in "contact" types of wounds.

Bondage — A masochistic involvement with ligatures, restraints, blindfolds, gags, hoods, or restrictive containers. In autoerotic episodes, these restraints may vary from the very simple to very complex and bizarre.

Bottom man — The homosexual male who receives the fist of the "top man" during a "fisting," or the insertee (passive partner) in anal intercourse.

Bradycardia — Abnormally slow heartbeat. Cardiac output is decreased, causing faintness, dizziness, and chest pains.

Bruise — Bluish swelling of blood beneath the skin.

Bull — In prison slang, a tough female who plays the dominant sexual role.

Bull dyke — A lesbian who adopts masculine manners as well as wears men's clothing.

Bullet track — The path of the bullet or projectile as it passes through the body.

Burking — Mechanical asphyxia plus smothering that is homicidal in nature. Murder by suffocating so as to leave the body unmarked. (William Burke was executed in Edinburgh in 1829. He and an accomplice would supply bodies for anatomical dissection. They would get an individual intoxicated and Burke would sit on the victim's chest while the mouth and nose were covered.)

Butch — A homosexual male or female who is masculine in looks and manner.

Cadaveric spasm — Stiffening and rigidity of a single group of muscles occurring immediately after death.

Calvaria (calvarium) — The skull cap or superior portion of the skull.

Capillaries — Connect arteries and veins.

Carbon dioxide — A heavy, colorless gas. Formed in tissues during respiration and eliminated by the lungs.

Carbon monoxide — A colorless, odorless, very toxic gas formed by burning carbon or organic fuels.

Carcinoma — Cancer. This will usually be defined by the organ or body affected. Cardio — A combining form denoting relationship to the heart.

Cardiovascular system — The network of structures, including the heart and the blood vessels, that pump and convey the blood throughout the body.

Carotid — Arteries of the neck.

Cartilage — The gristle or white elastic substance attached to articular bone surfaces and forming certain parts of the skeleton.

Casting — The filling of a three-dimensional footwear impression with material that takes on and retains the characteristics that were left in that impression by the footwear. Also, a method of making a mold by first making a three-dimensional model of a shoe and then making a cast from that model (Bodziak's Footwear Impression Evidence textbook).

Cast-off stains — Stains created when blood is flung or projected from an object in motion or one that suddenly stops some motion.

Castration — Removal of the gonads (primary sex organs).

Cause of death — Any injury or disease that produces a physiological derangement in the body resulting in the individual's dying.

Cavity — A hollow place or space.

Cecum — A cul-de-sac constituting the first part of the large intestine.

Cell — The basic unit of all living organisms, including humans, animals, insects, and plants. The cell consists of a nucleus and cytoplasm. The human body has more than 10 trillion cells.

Cerebral — Pertaining to the cerebrum, which is the main portion of the brain occupying the upper part of the cranium.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — The fluids about the brain and spinal cord.

Cerebro-vascular accident (CVA) — A stroke; severe injury to the brain resulting from spontaneous hemorrhage or thrombosis.

Cervical — Pertaining to the neck.

Chain of custody — Refers to the process which documents the "custodial history" of an item of evidence from the time it is recovered from the crime scene through the laboratory process to the time it is presented in the courtroom.

Chicken — In pedophile slang, a young boy who is used sexually by an adult homosexual.

Chickenhawk — An adult homosexual male who seeks children or young teenagers for sexual activities.

Choking — Asphyxia caused by obstruction within the air passages.

Chop wounds — Wounds caused by a heavy object with an edge, e.g., an axe, a machete, or a meat cleaver.

Chromosome — A structure in the cell nucleus composed mainly of DNA and other proteins that stores and transmits genetic information.

Chronic — Of long duration (said of sickness).

Circulation — Movement in a regular course, such as the circulation of the blood. Cirrhosis — A disease of the liver marked by progressive destruction of liver cells.

Class evidence — Class evidence is that which cannot be forensically identified with a specific source to the exclusion of all others

Clavicle — A long, curved horizontal bone just above the first rib forming the ventral portion of the shoulder girdle.

Clustered crime scene — Involves a situation where most of the activities take place at one location; the confrontation, the attack, the assault, and sexual activity, etc.

Coagulate — To become clotted.

CODIS (Combined DNA Index System) — A database maintained by the FBI and several individual states containing the DNA profiles from criminals who have been convicted of a certain class of crimes as well as DNA evidence from sexual assaults and homicides

Colon — The part of the large intestine that extends from the cecum to the rectum.

Comatose — Unconscious and unresponsive to stimuli. Note that a comatose person is not dead.

Congenital — Existing at or dating from birth.

Conjunctiva — Delicate membrane lining of the eyelid.

Contact wound — Occurs when the firearm is pressed against the head or body. Consequently, gases from the explosion expand between the skin and the bone, producing a bursting effect and ragged wound. Contact wounds can be hard, loose, angled, or incomplete. Gas, soot, metallic particles, vaporized metal from the bullet and cartridge case, primer residue, and powder particles are all driven into the wound track.

Contrecoup — Injury to a part of the body (usually the brain) caused by a blow to the opposite side. Occurs frequently in falls.

Contrecoup contusions — These occur in the brain directly opposite to the point of impact. They are seen most commonly in the frontal and temporal lobes. Contrecoup contusions are classically associated with falls.

Contusion — An area of hemorrhage into soft tissue due to the rupture of blood vessels caused by blunt trauma.

Convulsion — A violent, involuntary contraction or series of contractions of the voluntary muscles.

Coprolangia — A sexual desire to consume feces.

Coprophilia — A sexual attraction to feces.

Coronal plane — An imaginary line dividing the body into a front and back portion.

Coronary — Of or pertaining to the heart.

Corpse — The dead body of a human being.

Corpus delicti — The body of the crime. The facts constituting or proving a crime; material substance or foundation of a crime. The corpus delicti in a murder case is not just the body of the victim, but the fact that he has been murdered.

Crack — Concentrated form of cocaine used in vapor form. It is smoked or inhaled through "crack pipes." It is a highly addictive drug that causes psychotic behavior, which is often violent.

Cranial cavity — The skull cavity, which contains the brain.

Craniotomy — The opening of the skull, such as for brain surgery.

Cranium — The skull or brain pan.

Cremains — Human remains which have been cremated.

Cricoid — A ring-shaped cartilage connected to the thyroid cartilage.

Criminal investigative analysis — The current term used by the FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit at Quantico to define their psychological profile and criminal personality profiles of offenders.

Cruising — In homosexual slang, to go looking for a homosexual pickup or partner for a brief sexual encounter.

Culpable — Meriting condemnation or blame.

Cunnilingus — The act of kissing and licking a female's vagina and stimulating it with the tongue.

Cutaneous — Pertaining to the skin.

Cyanosis — Blueness of the skin, often due to cardiac malformation, resulting in insufficient oxygenation of the blood.

Death — Apparent death: the cessation of life as indicated by the absence of heartbeat or respiration. Legal death: the total absence of activity in the brain and central nervous system, the cardiovascular system, and the respiratory system as observed and declared by a physician.

Decomposition — The separation of compound bodies into their constituent principles; postmortem degeneration of the body. It involves two principles: autolysis and putrefaction.

Defecation — Elimination of solid waste matter from the intestines.

Defeminize — To divest of female qualities or characterizations; in particular, to remove a woman's breast.

Defense wounds — Cuts, abrasions, and contusions on the hands, wrists, forearms, and arms which occur during a violent struggle as the victim attempts to ward off his or her attacker.

Degeneration — Deterioration.

Delirium — A mental disorder marked by illusions, hallucinations, physical restlessness, and incoherence.

Dentition — The arrangement, number, and kinds of teeth as they appear in the dental arch of the mouth. The character of the teeth of an individual; types of dentition, pertaining to teeth.

Dependent personality — Behavior characterized by excessive or compulsive needs for attention, acceptance, and approval from other people to maintain security and self-esteem.

Depersonalization — The actions taken by a murderer to obscure the personal identity of the victim. The face may be beaten beyond recognition, or the face of the victim may be covered.

Depraved — Corrupt or perverted.

Deteriorate — To become worse.

Deviant — Gay slang to describe homosexual activities that are particularly strange or bizarre, e.g., S&M, sex with a child, fisting, urophilia, or coprophilia.

Diagnosis — The art of distinguishing one disease from another.

Diaphragm — The musculomembranous partition that separates the abdomen from the thorax.

Diesel dyke — A particularly masculine or tough lesbian.

Dildo — An artificial penis-like sex toy.

Disarticulation — Amputation or separation at a joint.

Disease — Any departure from a state of health; illness or sickness.

Disembowel — To take out the bowels or entrails; eviscerate.

Disinterment — Digging up a body after burial.

Distal — Indicates farther away from the center of the body. Hence, the elbow is distal to the shoulder.

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) — This molecule is housed in every nucleated cell of the body. Often described as the body's blueprint because it carries the genetic codes that govern the structure and function of every component of the body.

Dorsal — Pertaining to the back.

Dorsal cavity — Subdivided into the cranial and vertebral cavities.

Double homicide — Two victims killed during one event and at one location.

Drag — Wearing the clothing of the opposite sex, especially when a male wears female attire.

Drag queen — A gay male who dresses as a woman in a spirit of playacting. (Not to be confused with transvestism.)

Drowning — Asphyxiation because of submersion in a liquid. Sequence of events is holding the breath, involuntary inspiration and gasping for air at the breaking point, loss of consciousness, and death.

Dump job — A police colloquialism which references that a body has been transported and discarded at a location other than where the murder occurred. The dump site is usually in an isolated or desolate location.

Duodenum — The first portion of the small intestine.

Dura mater — Outermost and toughest membrane covering the brain.

Dyke — A street term used to describe a lesbian.

Dysentery — A term given to a number of disorders marked by inflammation of the intestines, attended pain in the abdomen and frequent stools containing blood and mucus.

Dyspnea — Difficult or labored breathing.

Ecchymosis — Swelling from a bruise caused by bleeding beneath the skin.

Eczema — An inflammatory skin disease.

Edema — Collection of abnormal amounts of fluid in tissue, such as in lungs or limbs.

EEG (electroencephalogram) — A tracing of the electrical activity of the brain allowing diagnosis of disease of the brain.

Ejaculate — To discharge.

EKG; ECG (electrocardiogram) — A tracing on a strip of paper showing the electrical activity of the heart and allowing diagnosis of heart disease.

Electropherogram — Capillary electrophoresis is used to separate DNA fragments based upon their size. An electrical current is applied through a thin tube known as a capillary that acts as a molecular sieve. Negatively charged DNA molecules migrate through the capillary toward the anode (+); smaller DNA fragments migrate faster than larger fragments. As the fragments move through the detector, their tags are excited by a laser, which causes them to fluoresce. The fluorescent emission is sent to a computer workstation where data are acquired and analyzed. Electronic data are recorded in a form known as an electropherogram.

Electrophoresis — A technique for separating biological molecules by size by exposing them to an electrical charge.

Electrostatic lifting device — A device consisting of a high-voltage supply used with a special conductive lifting film to transfer a dry origin footwear impression electrostatically from a surface to a film.

Embalming — The treatment of the dead body to prevent putrefaction.

Embolus — A thrombus which breaks away from where it formed and travels to another area of the body.

Embryo — The fetus in its earlier stages of development.

Emphysema — Lung disease. The area of the lungs is reduced by this disease, causing wheezing and difficult breathing.

Engram — (In psychology "a mind picture.") Attributed to early sexual psychic trauma. Paraphilic in nature. A typical engram might be a sadistic fantasy or specific sexual scenario. The sadistic scenario is thus conjured in the imagination, whether it is a recreation of the actual crime or the product of fantasy.

Entomology — Branch of science dealing with the study of insects. For example, in making a determination of time of death, a forensic entomologist evaluates the structures and habits of certain necropagous insects collected from the carrion; which provide cycle time frames for the species.

Entrails — The inner organs of humans and animals. Specifically, the intestines.

Enzyme — Proteins that initiate specific biochemical reactions.

Epidermis — The outermost layer of the skin.

Epiglottis — Lid-like structures covering the entrance to the larynx.

Erotic — Arousing sexual desire.

Eroticism — Sexual or erotic quality or character of something.

Erythema — Redness or inflammation of the skin or mucous membranes that is a result of dilatation and congestion of superficial capillaries.

Eukaryocyte cells — Human cells

Evisceration — Removal of the viscera from the abdominal cavity; disembowelment.

Exclusionary rule — Refers to the admissibility of evidence. Any evidence seized in violation of the Fourth Amendment is not admissible in court.

Exculpatory evidence — Evidence that exculpates or proves a suspect or defendant is not guilty.

Exhibitionism — Exposing the genitals to an unsuspecting stranger for the purposes of obtaining sexual excitement.

Exhume — The disinterring or removal of a body from the grave.

Expiratory blood — Blood forced from the mouth, nose, or respiratory system under pressure.

Exsanguination — Loss of blood.

Fag, faggot — A street term used to describe an effeminate homosexual man.

Fag bashers — A street term used to describe "straight" men who beat up gay men.

Fag workers — A street term used to describe offenders who set up and rob homosexual men.

Fantasy — An imaginative sequence in which one's desires are fulfilled.

Fatal injury — An injury resulting in death.

Feces — Excrement discharged from the intestines.

Fellatio — The act of kissing and mouthing a sex partner's penis. A sexual activity involving oral contact with the male genitals.

Femme — A street term used to describe a feminine-looking lesbian.

Femoral artery — An extension of the external iliac artery into the lower limb, starting just distal to the inguinal ligament and ending at the junction of the middle and lower thirds of the thigh.

Femur — The thigh bone, which extends from the pelvis to the knee.

Fetish — Any object or nongenital part of the body that causes a habitual erotic response or fixation.

Fetishism — Compulsive use of nonliving objects for sexual arousal (usually, female undergarments [e.g., panties], shoes, etc.).

Fetus — The unborn offspring of a human or an animal.

Fibrillation — Fluttering of the heart not controlled by motor nerves.

Fibula — The bone of the leg, lateral to and smaller than the tibia.

Filicide — The act of murdering one's child.

Fisting — A deviant sexual act practiced among homosexual males. The human hand is inserted into the anal cavity of the other participant during sadomasochistic sex.

Fistula — An abnormal passage leading from an abscess to the body surface.

Flaccid — Soft, limp.

Flaming faggot — A street term used to describe a flamboyantly effeminate homosexual man.

Floater — A dead body in the water which comes to the surface due to decompositional gases.

Fornication — In law, sexual intercourse between two people who are not married to each other. The specific legal definition varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.

Frame of reference — The personal guidelines of an individual, taken as a whole. An individual frame of reference reflects the person's social status, cultural norms, and concepts.

Fratricide — The act of killing one's brother or sister.

Friction ridges — The fingerprint ridges that can be seen on the inner surfaces of the hands.

Frotteurism — A sexual attraction to touching or rubbing against a nonconsenting person. Rubbing one's genitals against the body of another.

Frye rule — A legal standard of admissibility, used by a number of jurisdictions, which requires that scientific evidence to be introduced into court must have gained general acceptance by the scientific community. Based on the Supreme Court decision Frye v. U.S., F 1013 at 1014 (D.C. Cir. 1923). A number of these Frye rulings have occurred as a result of DNA technology. Most courts have upheld DNA. Gangrene — Death of tissue, characterized by anoxia and marked inflammation.

Garrity — Garrity v. New Jersey, 385 U.S. 493 (1967). Refers to warnings to employees during the investigative stages of a use-of-deadly-force investigation. Garrity warnings apply only to administrative investigations of employees and are coercive in nature.

Gastric — Relating to the stomach.

Gastrointestinal tract — Of or pertaining to the organs from mouth to anus. Specifically, of the stomach and intestines.

Gastroscopy — Looking in the stomach with a metal instrument, a gastroscope. Gay — Homosexual

Gay bashing — The politically correct reference to "fag bashing."

Gene — A segment of DNA that codes for the production of a specific protein.

Genitalia (genitals) — The sexual organs. In males, the testes and penis; in females, the vulva and vagina.

Girl — In prison slang, a male who is used sexually by other males. An "insertee."

Glycoprotein (P30) — A semen-specific glycoprotein (P30) of prostatic origin discovered in 1978. This substance is only present in semen and has essentially replaced analysis for acid phosphatase in rape investigations except for rapid screening tests. Gorilla — In prison slang, a tough male who plays the insertor role sexually.

Heart — The muscular, cone-shaped organ, about the size of clenched fist, that pumps blood throughout the body and beats normally about 70 times per minute.

Helix — A double-spiral of deoxyribonucleic acid in the shape of a twisted ladder, i.e., DNA as a double-stranded helix.

Hematoma — A large focal collection of blood in an area of contusion; local swelling filled with effused blood.

Hemolysis — Breakdown of red blood cells and the release of hemoglobin.

Hemophilia — Condition in which blood is slow to clot or does not clot, allowing a person to bleed to death.

Hemorrhage — Heavy bleeding. A loss of a large amount of blood in a short period of time, externally or internally. May be arterial, venous, or capillary.

Hemothorax — An accumulation of blood and fluid in the pleural cavity, between the parietal and visceral pleural; usually the result of trauma.

Hepatic — Relating to the liver.

Heterophobia — A fear or hatred of heterosexuality. An irrational and/or paranoid fear or animosity of heterosexuals because of one's affinity toward homosexuality. An example would be the need to overtly demonstrate homosexual proclivities in order to affront heterosexual ideals, mores, and/or values because of the perceived threat of attack by heterosexuals.

Histology — The science dealing with the microscopic identification of cells and tissues; the structure of organ tissues, including the composition of cells and their organization into various body tissues.

Histone — A group of strongly basic, low molecular weight proteins which combine with nucleic acids to form nucleoproteins.

Histotoxic — Poisonous to tissue or tissues.

Histotoxin — Any substance poisonous to the body tissues. It is usually generated within the body rather than introduction externally.

HLA (human leukocyte antigen) — A polymorphic protein system commonly identified for paternity testing.

Homeostasis — A relative constancy in the internal environment of the body, naturally maintained by adaptive responses that promote healthy survival. Examples of some functions controlled by homeostatic mechanisms are the heartbeat, blood pressure, and respiration.

Homicide — The killing of a human being by another human being.

Homicidomania — Impulsive desire to commit murder.

Homophobia — Fear or hatred of homosexuals. Irrational fears of homosexuality in others, the fear of homosexual feelings within oneself, or self-loathing because of one's homosexuality (Weinberg, G. Society and the Healthy Homosexual. New York: Anchor Books, 1973).

Homosexual — A person who is attracted to and obtains sexual gratification from acts performed with a person of the same sex.

Homosexual handkerchief codes — The color-coded handkerchief signals employed by certain homosexual subcultures to indicate their sexual proclivities and/or preferences.

Humerus — The largest bone of the upper arm.

Hustler — In homosexual terminology, a male prostitute, especially a young male who takes pay to let himself be felated.

Hybridization — Probes, usually tagged with a radioactive marker, are applied to the nylon membrane (see Southern blotting). These probes are designed to seek out a predetermined chromosomal locus containing a polymorphic region of DNA.

Hydrophobia — The usual common name for rabies in man.

Hyoid bone — Small U-shaped bone at the base of the tongue.

Hypertension — High blood pressure.

Hyperthermia — A much higher than normal body temperature.

Hypothermia — An abnormal and dangerous condition in which the body is below 95°F. Usually caused by prolonged exposure to cold.

Hypoxia — Partial deprivation of oxygen.

Incised wound — Caused by a sharp instrument or weapon. A wound that is longer than deep, with minimum bruising, no bridging of skin, and bleeding freely.

Incision — A wound inflicted by an instrument with a sharp cutting edge.

Individualistic evidence — Evidence that can be positively and forensically identified with a specific source to the exclusion of all other sources.

Infanticide — The act of killing an infant soon after birth.

Infarct — An area of necrosis (death of a cell or group of cells) in a tissue, produced by sudden arrest or circulation in a vessel.

Inferior — Indicates direction further away from the head end of the body or towards the lower part of the body.

Infibulation — Self-infliction of pain on the genitals.

Inguinal — Of the groin.

Inhalation — The drawing of air or other vapor into the lungs.

Insertee — In homosexual terminology, a homosexual male who receives the partner's penis in his mouth or anus; a homosexual female who receives the partner's tongue in her vagina. (See also Bottom man.)

Insertor — In homosexual terminology, a homosexual male who puts his penis in the partner's mouth or anus; a homosexual female who performs cunnilingus on her partner. (See also Top man.)

Intestine — The membranous tube that extends from the stomach to the anus.

Intra — Prefix meaning within.

Jaundice — Yellow pigmentation of skin, most commonly resulting from liver failure.

Kidney — One of a pair of bean-shaped urinary organs in the dorsal part of the abdomen. There is one kidney on each side of the vertebral column.

Klismaphilia — A sexual attraction to the giving or receiving of enemas.

Laceration — A split or tear of the skin, usually produced by blunt force (shearing or crushing type of injury from blunt objects, falls, or impact from vehicles). These injuries tend to be irregular with abraded contused margins. Internal organs can also have lacerations.

Laryngeal prominence — The bulge at the front of the neck produced by the thyroid cartilage of the larynx (Adam's apple).

Larynx — The voice box, located between the root of the tongue and the trachea.

Latent prints — Fingerprints not visible to the naked eye. Usually developed through fingerprint powders or chemical enhancement.

Lateral — Pertaining to a side.

Leather freak — In homosexual terminology, a homosexual, usually a male, who dresses in leather and acts tough and masculine. Street term which also means someone who practices S&M. (See Sadomasochism.) Lesbian — A female homosexual.

Leukemia — Cancer of the blood cells.

Ligament — Any fibrous, tough band which connects bones or supports viscera.

Ligature — Anything which binds or ties.

Linkage blindness — An investigative failure to recognize a pattern which "links" one crime with another crime in a series of cases through victimology, geographic region or area of events, the "signature" of the offender, similar M.O., and a review of autopsy protocols.

Liver — The largest glandular organ situated in the upper part of the abdomen on the right side, usually of a dark red color.

Lividity or livor mortis — Postmortem discoloration due to the gravitation of blood into the dependent capillaries and veins.

Locus — The specific position occupied by a particular gene or allele on a chromosome.

Lumbar — Pertaining to or near the lower region of the back.

Lung — One of a pair of light, spongy organs in the thorax constituting the main portion of the respiratory system.

Mandible — The large bone constituting the lower jaw.

Manic depressive — A psychosis characterized by alternating periods of mania and mental depression.

Manner of death — Explains how the cause of death came about. Medicolegal manners of death are homicide, suicide, accident, natural, and undetermined.

Marbling — Produced by hemolysis of blood vessels with reaction of hemoglobin and hydrogen sulfide and development of greenish black coloration along the vessels.

Masochism — Sexual perversion in which the individual takes delight in being subject to degrading, humiliating, or cruel treatment such as flogging or choking.

Mass murder — A homicide involving the killing of four or more victims during a single event at one location. Classic — involves a single individual, who kills more than four persons at one location during a period of time (minutes, hours, or days). Family-member murder — more than three family members are killed and the perpetrator takes his life in a mass murder/suicide. Family killing — four or more family members killed by a family member who does not commit suicide.

Master — In S&M sex; the dominant, active, insertor partner.

Masturbation — Manual manipulation of the genitals resulting in sexual excitement. Maxilla — One of a pair of large bones that form the upper jaw.

Mechanical asphyxia — Asphyxia created by pressure on the outside of the body, which prevents respiration. Examples are traumatic asphyxia, positional asphyxia, and riot crush or "human pile" deaths.

Mechanism of death — The physiological derangement produced by the cause of death that results in death, e.g., hemorrhage, septicemia, cardiac arrhythmia.

Medial — Pertaining to the middle. Indicates closer to the midline of the body.

Mediastinal or interpleural cavity — Contains everything located in the thoracic cavity other than the heart and lungs. Includes the trachea, bronchi, esophagus.

Membrane — A thin layer of tissue which covers a surface or divides a space or organ.

Meningitis — Inflammation of the meninges (thin membranous covering of the brain).

Midline — The center of the head, chest, and abdomen.

Miscarriage — The premature emptying of a uterus prior to 28 weeks of gestation.

Misdemeanor murders — A "Geberthism" which suggests that when two "shitbirds" (less than productive citizens) kill each other in some sort of drug-related homicide the crime might actually be considered a less than felony offense. The author obviously uses the term in a facetious manner.

Mitochondrion — Small, threadlike organelle with the cytoplasm. Mitochondria are self-replicating and contain sources of DNA.

Modus operandi — "Mode of operation or way of doing things." The M.O. is a learned behavior that changes as offenders gain experience, build confidence, or become involved with the criminal justice system.

Monomania — Insanity on a single subject or class of subjects.

Mummification — The complete drying up of the body as the result of burial in a dry place or exposure to dry atmosphere.

Munchausen syndrome by proxy (MSBP) — A form of child abuse whereby the parent or adult caregiver deliberately simulates or causes medical distress in a child in order to gain attention, praise, or the sympathy of others.

Musculoskeletal system — All of the muscles, bones, joints, and related structures, such as the tendons and connective tissue, that function in the movement of the parts and organs of the body.

Myocardial infarction (MI) — An occlusion of a coronary artery caused by atherosclerosis or an embolus resulting from a necrotic area in the vasculature myocardium.

Myocardium — The heart muscle.

Mysophilia — A sexual attraction to filth.

Narcomania — An insane desire for narcotics or alcohol.

Narcissistic personality — A personality characterized by behavior and attitudes that indicate an abnormal love of self. These persons have an exaggerated sense of self-importance.

Narcolepsy — A syndrome characterized by sudden sleep attacks, sleep paralysis. Persons with narcolepsy experience an uncontrolled desire to sleep, sometimes many times in one day. Episodes may last from a few minutes to several hours.

Natal — Pertaining to birth.

Navicular — Having the shape of a boat, such as the navicular bone in the wrist or the area of the vagina, such as in fossa navicularis.

Nausea — Tendency to vomit; sickness at the stomach.

NCAVC (National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime) — A subdivision of the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit located in Quantico, Virginia. Composed of four sections: Research and Development, VICAP, Criminal Personality Profiling Program, and Consultation Program.

Necrophagia — The eating of dead bodies or feeding off carrion, e.g., necrophagous insects such as flies and beetles can provide entomological evidence in death investigations.

Necrophilia — Morbid attraction to corpses; sexual intercourse with a dead body; erotic interest in or stimulation by corpses.

Necrosis — Localized tissue death that occurs in groups of cells in response to disease or injury.

Neonaticide — The killing of a child within 24 hours of its birth.

Nitroglycerine — Medicine to treat heart patients; a pill taken under the tongue.

Non compos mentis — Not sound of mind; insane.

Nucleus — The part of the cell that contains the chromosomes, which are composed of DNA and associated proteins; the genetic program.

Oblique lighting — Light positioned at a low angle of incidence relative to the surface being photographed. Also referred to as side lighting.

Occlusion — In anatomy, a blockage in a canal, vessel, or passage of the body.

Organized crime "hit" — A murder of a known or recognized member of an organized criminal enterprise.

Ossification — Formation of bone or a bony substance.

Osteitis — Inflammation of bone caused by pyogenic organisms.

Osteomyelitis — Inflammation of bone caused by pyogenic organisms.

Overlay — Mechanical asphyxia combined with smothering. An example would be an infant in bed with one of the parents, who inadvertently rolls on top of the child, thus compressing the chest and occluding the nose and mouth with the bedding or the body.

Padding — Material placed between a body portion and the ligature or device used to alter the physiological state of the victim.

Pancreas — A large, elongated gland located behind the stomach.

Papillary — Pertaining to or resembling a nipple, ridges, or grooves.

Paralysis — The loss of power of voluntary motion.

Paranoia — A mental disorder characterized by systematized delusions, such as of grandeur or especially of persecution; often, except in a schizophrenic state, with an otherwise intact personality.

Parenticide — The act of killing one's parents.

Parietal — Of or pertaining to the outer wall of a cavity or organ.

Patella — A flat triangular bone at the front of the knee joint.

Patent prints — Fingerprints that are visible and do not need to be enhanced through processing, such as fingerprints in blood or visible prints in other materials.

Pathognomonic — Of a sign or symptom. Specific to a disease or condition.

PCR (polymerase chain reaction) — A DNA testing procedure which mimics the cell's ability to replicate DNA, essentially copying it a millionfold.

Pedophile — A person who engages in pedophilia.

Pedophilia — Engaging in sexual activity with prepubertal children.

Pelvic cavity — The lower portion of the abdominopelvic cavity, which begins roughly on a line with the iliac crests and ends at the inferior end of the abdominopelvic cavity. It contains the urinary bladder, the sex organs, and part of the small and large intestines.

Pelvis — The lower portion of the trunk of the body, composed of four bones.

Pericardial cavity — Contains the heart.

Perimortem — Near or around the time of death.

Peritoneum — An extensive serous membrane that covers the entire abdominal wall of the body and is reflected over the contained viscera.

Peritonitis — An inflammation of the peritoneum produced by bacteria or irritating substances introduced into the abdominal cavity by a penetrating wound or perforation of an organ.

Permeation — The spreading of a disease process through a tissue or organ.

Petechial hemorrhages — Minute (pin-like) hemorrhages that occur at points beneath the skin. Usually observed in conjunctiva (the mucous membrane lining the inner surface of the eyelids and anterior part of the sclera).

Phalanx — Any bone of a finger or toe.

Phlebitis — Inflammation of veins.

Physiological mechanism — The ligature or device used to alter the physiological state of the victim.

Piquerism — Sexual inclinations to stab, pierce, or cut. Obtaining a sexual gratification from the shedding of blood, tearing of flesh, and/or observing such pain and suffering of a victim subjected to this activity.

Plastic prints — Visible prints in soft substances such as wet paint, soap, or wax.

Pleural — The chest cavity about the lungs.

Pleural cavities — Contain the two lungs.

Pleuritis — Pleurisy; inflammation in the chest cavity.

Pneumatic — Pertaining to air or respiration.

Pneumothorax — Air in the chest cavity.

Polymorphism — A naturally occurring or induced variation in the sequence of bases on a segment of DNA.

Positional asphyxia — Asphyxia occurring as a result of body position which restricts respiration.

Posterior — (Dorsal) Indicates the back side of the body. Hence, the heels are posterior or dorsal.

Postmortem — After death.

Postpartum — Pertaining to the period following childbirth.

Probable cause — Reasonable grounds to believe that a person has committed a crime.

Probe — In genetic engineering, a fragment of DNA carrying the complementary code for a specific base sequence. Probes can be used to detect variations in base sequence that establish individual identity.

Protein — A molecule consisting of linked amino acids. Proteins serve as the building blocks of body structures or as the enzymes that initiate specific biochemical reactions.

Proximal — Indicates nearer to a point of reference, usually the center of the body. Hence, the shoulder is proximal to the elbow.

Psychiatry — Branch of medicine concerned with the study, treatment, and prevention of disorders of the mind, including psychoses, neuroses, etc.

Psychodynamics — The study of the mental and emotional processes underlying human behavior and its motivation.

Psycholinguistic analysis — A sophisticated method of examining the spoken or written communication as to origin, background, and psychology of the speaker or writer.

Psychological autopsy — A collaborative procedure involving law enforcement and mental health experts, who attempt to determine the state of a person's mind prior to a sudden death.

Psychology — The science dealing with the mind and with the mental and emotional processes; the science of human and animal behavior.

Psychopathic killer — A person who kills for pleasure.

Psychopathic personality — A person whose behavior is largely amoral and asocial and who is characterized by irresponsibility, lack of remorse or shame, perverse or impulsive (often criminal) behavior, and other serious personality defects, generally without psychotic attacks or symptoms.

Psychopathic sexual sadist — A person who inflicts physical or psychological pain on another for the purposes of causing suffering, submission, humiliation, fear, and terror. The suffering of the victim is sexually arousing for the offender.

Psychopathology — The science dealing with the causes and development of mental disorders; psychological malfunctioning, as in mental disorder.

Psychosis — A major mental disorder in which the personality is very seriously disorganized and contact with reality is impaired.

Psychosomatic — Pertaining to the mind–body relationship.

Psychotic — Of or having the nature of a psychosis; having a psychosis; a person who has a psychosis.

Psychotic killer — A person whose psychosis drives him or her to kill.

Pubic — Pertaining to the pubes (anterior pelvic bones).

Pugilistic attitude — Position the body assumes in fire deaths. Coagulation of the muscle due to heat causes contraction of muscle fibers with resultant flexion of the limbs.

Pulmonary — Pertaining to the lungs.

Pulmonary embolism — The closure of the pulmonary artery or one of its branches by an embolus.

Pulmonary infarction — An area of necrosis in lung tissue produced by sudden arrest of circulation in a vessel.

Purge fluid — Decomposition fluid, which drains from the mouth or nose. Sometimes mistaken as blood from head trauma.

Purines — Basic chemicals of life, such as in DNA molecules; adenine (A) and guanine (G).

Putrefaction — Decomposition of soft tissues by bacteria and fermentation and enzymes. After death, the bacterial flora of the gastrointestinal tract invades the vascular system, spreading throughout the body and producing putrefaction.

Pyrimidines — Basic chemicals of life, such as in DNA molecules; thymine (T) and cytosine (C).

Quadrants — Additional points of reference to locate precisely the organs in the abdominopelvic cavity because the cavity is large and contains several organs. The medical description divides the cavity into four quadrants. (1) Upper right quadrant contains part of the small intestine, the descending duodenum, the upper ascending colon, most of the liver, gallbladder and bile ducts, head of pancreas, right adrenal gland, right kidney, and upper part of right ureter. (2) Lower right quadrant contains the lower ascending colon, cecum, appendix, lower right ureter, terminal ileum, part of urinary bladder, and sex organs. (3) Upper left quadrant contains ascending part of duodenum, upper descending colon, left half of transverse colon, spleen, small part of liver, left adrenal gland, left kidney, and upper part of left ureter. (4) Lower left quadrant contains descending colon, small intestine (part of ileum), lower part of left ureter, part of urinary bladder, and sex organs.

Queen — Gay slang. A term used to describe effeminate or queer male homosexuals. Usually combined with other words such as "drag queen," etc.

Queer — A homosexual, usually refers to a male.

Queer queers — In gay slang, deviants.

Quickie — In gay slang, a hasty sex act between strangers.

Radius — One of the bones of the forearm, lying parallel to the ulna.

Rancid — Having a musty, rank taste or smell.

rDNA — Recombinant DNA; rDNA technology in which a molecule of DNA is cloned or synthesized.

Rectum — The portion of the large intestine proximal to the anal cavity Renal — Relating to the kidneys.

Reproductive system — The male and female gonads, associated ducts and glands, and the external genitalia that function in the procreation of offspring. In women, these include the ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, clitoris, and vulva. In men, these include the testes, epididymis, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, ejaculatory duct, prostate, and penis

Res gestae — "Things done." The facts that form the environment of a litigated issue and are admissible in evidence. An example would be a res gestae or spontaneous statement made to a police officer by a suspect.

Respiration — The act or function of breathing.

Respiratory tract — The complex of organs and structures that performs the pulmonary ventilation of the body and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the ambient air and the blood circulating through the lungs.

Restriction endonuclease — Enzyme that "cuts" the DNA molecules at specific locations.

Resuscitation — To revive, as in drownings or electrical shock.

Retardation — Delay or hindrance.

RFLP — Restriction fragment length polymorphisms.

Rib — One of 12 pairs of elastic arches of bone forming a large part of the thoracic skeleton. The first seven ribs on each side are called the true ribs because they articulate directly with the sternum and the vertebrae. The remaining five ribs are called false ribs; the first three attach ventrally to the ribs above and the last two ribs are free at their ventral extremities and are called floating ribs.

Rigor mortis — A rigidity or stiffening of the muscular tissue and joints of the body after death due to the disappearance of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) from muscle.

Ritual — Any practice or pattern of behavior repeated in a precise manner.

Ritualism — Adherence to or insistence on ritual.

Rough trade — In gay slang, extra tough, masculine types of males, who pretend to be straight but play the insertor role in homosexual sex.

Sacro — Combining form denoting relationship to the sacrum, the large triangular bone at the dorsal part of the pelvis.

Sadism — Getting sexual pleasure from dominating, mistreating, or hurting one's partner. Obtaining sexual gratification from inflicting physical or psychological pain on another.

Sadomasochistic acts — Sexual relations in which one partner purposely hurts the other physically, or abuses and humiliates the other, or both, with both partners becoming sexually aroused by these activities. Example: a sexual sadist, who dominates and abuses a consenting sexual masochist.

Safe sex — Sexual acts that avoid an exchange of or contact with the partner's sperm, vaginal fluid, saliva, or blood.

Sagittal plane — An imaginary line dividing the body into a right and left portion. Sarcoma — Malignant tumor; cancer.

Scapula — One of the pair of large, flat, triangular bones that form the dorsal part of the shoulder girdle. Also referred to as the shoulder blade.

Schizophrenia — A major mental disorder of unknown cause typically characterized by separation between thought processes and the emotions; a distortion of reality accompanied by delusions and hallucinations; a fragmentation of the personality, motor disturbances, bizarre behavior, etc., often with no loss of basic intellectual functions.

Schizophrenic — Of or having schizophrenia; a person who is schizophrenic.

Sclera — The white of the eye, a tough membrane.

Sclerosis — Induration or hardening of tissue.

Self-rescue mechanism — The object (knife, key) or method (pressure point change) utilized by the victim to alleviate the effects of the physiological mechanism. Semen — Thick, whitish secretion of the reproductive organs in the male.

Senile — Pertaining to or characteristic of old age, i.e., the physical or mental deterioration.

Septicemia — Systematic infection in which pathogens (microorganisms capable of producing disease) are present in the bloodstream having spread from an infection in any part of the body.

Serial murder (1) — Three or more separate murders with an emotional coolingoff period, which may consist of days, weeks, or months, between the homicides. Note: This was the FBI's definition in Crime Classification Manual and Sexual Homicide Patterns and Motives.

Serial murder (2) — Two or more separate murders where an individual, acting alone or with another, commits homicides over a period of time, with time breaks between each murder event. Note: This is my definition, which reflects a homicide detective's perception of serial murder events.

Serology — The science dealing with the properties and actions of serums, e.g., blood analysis.

Sexual masochism — Getting pleasure from being humiliated, bound, beaten, or otherwise made to suffer for sexual arousal. (Considered chronic.)

Sexual sadism — The infliction of physical or psychological pain on another person in order to achieve sexual excitement. (Considered a chronic and progressive disorder.)

Shrimping — A disgusting action in which one homosexual, who has engaged in anal intercourse with another, then "sucks out" the ejaculate from the recipients anal cavity.

SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) — Crib death as characterized by the sudden, unexpected death of an apparently healthy infant.

Sigmoid colon — The portion of the colon that extends from the end of the descending colon in the pelvis to the juncture of the rectum.

Signature — The signature aspect of a violent criminal offender is a unique and integral part of the offender's behavior. This signature component refers to the psychodynamics, which are the mental and emotional processes underlying human behavior and its motivations.

Signature (legal definition) — Evidence of a separate crime is used to establish the identity of the accused; more is required than merely proving the repeated commission of crimes of the same class. Generally, the device used to commit the crime or the manner in which the crime was committed must be so distinctive as to indicate a modus operandi or to act as a signature of the accused.

Slave — In S&M sex, the submissive, passive, or insertee partner.

Small intestine — The longest portion of the digestive tract.

Smothering — Asphyxia due to mechanical obstruction or occlusion of the external airways, i.e., mouth and nose.

SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) — DNA testing procedure. These are mutations.

Sororicide — The act of murdering one's sister.

Southern blotting — Process by which the DNA fragments separated during electrophoresis are transferred from the wobbly surface of the agarose gel onto a sheet of nylon membrane.

Spasm — Sudden, violent, involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles.

Sperm — A combining form meaning seed. The male germ cell (spermatozoon) found in semen, which penetrates the ovum, or egg, of the female.

Spleen — A soft, highly vascular, roughly ovoid organ sitting between the stomach and the diaphragm in the left hypochondriac region of the body.

Spree murder — The murder of more than one person at two or more locations during a single event without any cooling-off period.

Sputum — Matter ejected from the mouth: saliva and mucus. This substance contains DNA.

Stab wounds — Caused by relatively sharp, pointed instruments such as knives, screwdrivers, ice picks, daggers, scissors, or pieces of glass. These wounds are deeper than they are wide, with possible damage to vital organs beneath the skin and bone, and internal bleeding with little or no external blood.

Staging — Staging a scene occurs when the perpetrator purposely alters the crime scene to mislead the authorities or redirect the investigation.

Sternum — The breastbone. An elongated, flattened bone forming the middle portion of the thorax. It supports the clavicles and articulates the first seven pairs of ribs.

Still birth — A fetus at least 28 weeks old that is born dead.

Stippling — Also referred to as tattooing; pinpoint hemorrhages due to the discharge of burning powder against the skin.

Stomach — The major organ of digestion, located in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen.

STR (short tandem repeats) — DNA testing procedure. The STR loci are polymorphic genetic markers that are well distributed throughout the human genome.

Straight — In gay slang, a heterosexual person.

Strangulation — Any abnormal constriction of the throat, causing a suspension of breathing.

Stroke — Cerebrovascular accident. A sudden or severe attack, with rupture of the blood vessels of the brain.

Subdural — Under the dura matter or between the dura and arachnoid membranes covering the brain, such as in subdural hematoma.

Subdural hematoma — The most common lethal injury associated with head trauma. Bleeding, almost always from injury, between the inside of the skull and the dura, which covers the brain. This accumulation of blood produces pressure on the brain.

Suffocation — The failure of oxygen to reach the blood. This can occur through entrapment, smothering, choking, mechanical asphyxia combined with smothering, or through suffocating gases.

Superior — Indicates direction toward the head end or upper part of the body. Hence, the lungs are superior to the liver.

Superior vena cava — The second largest vein of the body returning deoxygenated blood from the upper half of the body to the right atrium.

Survival interval — The period of time between the infliction of injury and the actual death.

Suspension point — That location from which the victim has suspended himself.

Tache noire — An artifact of the drying eye after death, consisting of a brown to black band of discolored sclera where the eyes are partly open and exposed to the air.

Tachycardia — An abnormally fast heartbeat.

Tarsus — The instep proper of the foot with its seven bones.

Tea room — In gay slang, a public place, usually a toilet, where homosexual males meet for "quickie" sex, generally fellatio.

Tea room trade — Those who take part in sex acts in tea rooms.

Telephone scatologia — A sexual attraction to making obscene telephone calls (lewdness).

Tetanus — An acute, potentially fatal infection of the central nervous system caused by bacteria which release a powerful toxin.

Thermo — Combining form denoting relationship to heat.

Thoracic cavity — This is the portion of the ventral cavity above the diaphragm, which contains two pleural cavities that contain the two lungs; the pericardial cavity, which contains the heart; and the mediastinal or interpleural cavity, which contains everything located in the thoracic cavity other than the heart and lungs, e.g., trachea, bronchi, and esophagus.

Thorax — Chest. A bony–cartilaginous cage containing and protecting the heart, the lungs, and their major blood vessels.

Thrombo — Combining form denoting relationship to clot.

Thrombosis — Blood clotting inside the blood vessels, often in leg veins.

Tibia — The inner and large bone of the leg below the knee.

Tissue — An aggregation of cells united in the performance of a particular function.

Top man — The "fister" who inserts his hand into the anal cavity of the "bottom" man.

Torso — The trunk of the body without the head or extremities.

Toxic — Poisonous.

Toxicologist — An expert in the knowledge and detection of poisons.

Toxicology — The scientific study of poisons, their detection, their effects, and methods of treatment for conditions they produce.

Trace evidence — Evidence such as hairs, fibers, and residue as well as other microscopic evidence not visible to the naked eye.

Trachea — Commonly referred to as the windpipe. It is a nearly cylindrical tube of cartilage and membrane that extends from the larynx to the bronchi. It conveys air to the lungs.

Tracheotomy — An incision into the trachea below the larynx to gain access to the airway below the point of blockage.

Transverse colon — The segment of the colon that extends from the end of the ascending colon.

Transvestism — Cross dressing by heterosexual males for the purpose of sexual excitement. (Ranges from solitary wearing of female clothes to extensive involvement in a transvestitic subculture.)

Trauma — A physical injury caused by violent or disruptive action or by the introduction of a toxic substance into the body.

Traumatic asphyxia — Occurs when a large weight falls onto or presses down on an individual's chest or upper abdomen, making respiration impossible.

Tremor — An involuntary trembling or quivering.

Triage — Military medicine: A classification of casualties of war and other disasters according to the gravity of injuries, urgency of treatment, and place for treatment. A process in which a group of patients is sorted according to their need for care, the kind of illness or injury, the severity of the problem, and the facilities available. Disaster medicine: A process in which a large number of patients is sorted so that care can be concentrated on those who are likely to survive.

Tricking — In gay slang, cruising; seeking quickie sex with strangers.

Triple homicide — The murder of three victims during one event at one location.

Ulna — The bone on the medial or little finger side of the forearm, lying parallel with the radius.

Umbilical — Pertaining to the umbilicus (navel).

Unconscious — Being unaware of the surrounding environment; unresponsive to any stimuli; comatose.

Uremia — Presence of urinary materials in the blood. Could indicate renal failure. Ureter — One of a pair of tubes that carry the urine from the kidney to the bladder.

Urinary tract — All organs and ducts involved in the secretion and elimination of urine from the body. These include the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.

Urolangia — A sexual desire to consume urine.

Urophilia — A sexual attraction to urine.

Vagina — The part of the female genitalia that forms a canal from the orifice through the vestibule to the uterine cervix.

Vascular — Pertaining to a blood vessel.

Vein — A vessel which conveys the blood to or towards the heart.

Vena cava — Superior main vein draining the abdominal and pelvic viscera and the lower extremities.

Ventral — Of or pertaining to a position.

Ventral cavity — This cavity is subdivided into two major sections, the thoracic cavity and the abdominopelvic cavity. These two sections are divided by the diaphragm.

Ventricle — One of the two lower cavities of the heart.

Vertebral column — Combining form referring to the spinal column.

Viscera — The internal organs enclosed within a body cavity, primarily the abdominal organs.

Visceral peritoneum — One of two portions of the largest serous membrane in the body. The free surface of the visceral peritoneum is a smooth layer of mesothelium exuding a serous fluid that lubricates the viscera and allows them to glide freely against the wall of the abdominal cavity or over each other. The attached surface of the membrane is connected to the viscera and the abdominal wall by subserous fascia.

Visible prints — These prints occur when fingers, palms, or feet contaminated with a foreign substance come into contact with a clean surface and are pressed onto the surface, leaving a print.

Vulva — The external genitalia of the woman. It includes the mons pubis, the labia majora, the labia minora, the vestibule of the vagina, and the vestibular glands.

VICAP (Violent Criminal Apprehension Program) — A system designed to collect, collate, and analyze all aspects of an investigation.

Victimology — Pedigree such as sex, age, height, and weight. The essential information about the victim, such as family, friends, acquaintances, education, employment, residence, and neighborhood. This also includes the background information on the lifestyle of the victim. Was this person a low-, moderate-, or high-risk victim? What was going on in this victim's life at the time of the incident?

VNTRs (variable number of tandem repeats) — Polymorphic DNA regions unique to an individual that are known to repeat over and over.

Voyeurism — Repetitive looking at unsuspecting people, who are naked, in the act of disrobing, or engaging in sexual activity; the "Peeping Tom."

Water sports — In gay slang, urination by one sex partner on the other.

Withdrawal — Unpleasant, sometimes life-threatening physiologic changes that occur when some drugs are withdrawn after prolonged use. Example: a heroin addict going through withdrawal when deprived of the heroin.

Zoophilia — Use of animals for sexual arousal. (Includes intercourse with animals as well as training the animal to lick or rub the human partner.) This sexual disorder is also commonly referred to as bestiality.