CRIMINALISTICS 2015

POLICE PHOTOGRAPHY

Achromatic Lens – A lens which is partly corrected for chromatic aberration.

Anastigmatic Lens – A lens which is free from astigmatism and other types of
lens defects. It has the ability to focus vertical and horizontal lines at the same
time.

Anti-Staining Agent - The acetic acid which neutralizes the alcalie in the
developer, carried over that will prevent the weakening of the fixing solution
and the staining of the image produced.

ASA Rating – Refers to American Standards Association, expressed in

arithmetical value system. The speed ratings in numbers are directly
proportional to the sensitivity of the material.

Astigmatism – A lens defect which is the inability to focus both horizontal and
vertical plane at the same time or lines running in different directions.

Black Light – Refers to the absence of all colors of the spectrum.

Box Camera – A light-tight container or box equipped with simple lens, a

shutter, and an arrangement for holding film and provided with a viewfinder.

Bright Light – A natural light in which objects in open space casts a deep and
uniform shadow.

Cable Release - This is attached to the shutter to prevent accidental

movement of the camera during the exposure period especially when longer
exposure is made.

Camera Grip – A device used to hold firmly the camera so as to prevent the
vibration or movement of the camera during the exposure period. It is usually
attached to the body of the camera and sometimes the flash unit.

Central Shutter – A type of shutter that is usually located between the

elements of the lens made of metal leaves and its action starts from the center
toward the side, and then closes back to the center.

Chromatic Aberration – Refers to the lack of ability to focus the different

colors of light on film at the same time.

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Chromatic Difference of Magnification – The inability of the lens to produce
image sizes of objects with different colors.

Coma – Also referred to as lateral spherical aberration, it is a lens defect in

which the rays enter the lens obliquely.

Contact Print – It is a photographic positive made by exposing the

photographic paper while it is held tightly against the negative.

Contact Printer – A wood or metal box, including a light and a switch by which
the exposure time is controlled.

Contrast – It refers to the tonal difference between the lightest and darkest
segment and portion of a print.

Contrast Filters – Used to change the relative brightness value so that colors
which would otherwise be recorded as nearly the same will have different
brightness in the picture.

Correction Filter – Used to change the response of the film so that all colors
are recorded at approximately the relative brightness values as seen by the
human eye.

Curvature of Field – A lens defect manifested when the image formed by a

lens comes to a sharper focus on curved surface than on flat surface.

Dark Room – A room capable of being completely darkened or blacked out”

which contains tanks, running water, developing solutions, developing trays, a
sink, washer, dryer, enlarger, printer, and other apparatus necessary for the
production of a finished photograph.

Depth of Field – It is the remoteness or distance measured from the nearest to

the farthest object in apparent sharp focus when the lens set of focus is at a
particular distance.

Depth of Focus – It is the distance toward and away from the film that the lens
can be moved at a given f-value and the object still appears in interior.

Developing Agents – Refers to solutions such as the amidol, hydroquinone

and metol. They differ in their action capability of maximum contrast and
fineness of grains they produce. Hydroquinone and metol are usually mixed to
produce a developed. Hydroquinone is an active developer and when used
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alone produces extreme contrast and density. The image appears slowly but
the density proceeds rapidly after the image appears quickly but the density
and contrast increased slowly.

Developing Solution – A chemical concoction, which causes the image on the

film to develop out as a reverse image of the original scene or object
photographed.

Developing the Film – It is a method wherein a film is removed from the

camera in a darkened place and treated with certain liquid chemicals so that a
permanent negative is produced. It is the process of reduction in which
exposed silver halides are reduced to metallic silver, affected by agitation,
concentration of chemicals, exposure and temperature.

DIN Rating – Refers to Deutche Industri Normen rating, expressed in

logarithmic value system. In this system, an increase of three degrees doubles
the sensitivity of the film.

Distortions – A lens defect in which outer parts of the image produced by the
lens will be magnified either more or less than the center image.

Dull Light – A form of natural radiance in which objects in open space casts no
shadows.

Emulsion – Consisting of light-sensitive silver salts in a gelatin medium and

used to coat photographic films and papers.

Enlarging – It is the process of making sizeable pictures from small negatives.

Exposure – Refers to the product of illumination and time. The amount of light
that affects the sensitized materials can be controlled by the lens aperture or
lens opening and duration of illumination can be controlled by the shutter
speed of the camera.

Exposure Meter – An instrument, which actually measures the intensity of light

falling on the subject.

Extension Tube – A device used in photographing tiny or minute objects. It is

attached to the lens board of the camera and the lens is connected to it when
close-up photographing is necessary.

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Ferrotype Plate – Refers to a sheet of brass which has chromium-plated
surface on one sided used for producing a highly glossed and smooth surface.

Film – A light sensitive material that is placed inside a camera to store any
image the camera focuses.

Film Advancer – A contrivance which is necessary so that the exposed film

can be wind or transferred to the take up spool and the unexposed film will be
on the opposite side of the lens for another exposure.

Film Holder – Essential part of the camera that grips the film firmly inside the
camera. It is always located at the opposite side of the lens of any camera.

Filter – A colored gelatin or homogenous medium which absorbs or transmits

differentially light rays passing through it.

Fixation – Refers to the process of removing unexposed silver halides

remaining in the emulsion after the first image of development of the latent
image.

Fixing Bath – It is known as “hypo” and its purposes are to harden the gelatin
emulsion on the film, and to dissolve out all the unexposed and undeveloped
silver halide in it.

Focal Length of a Lens – It is the distance measured from the optical center
of the lens to the film plane when the lens set of focus is at infinity position.

Focal Plane Shutter – Located near the focal plane or the sensitized material,
this type of shutter is usually made of cloth curtain, its action starts on one side
and closes to the opposite side.

Focusing – Refers to the process of setting of the proper distance in order to

form a sharp image.

Focusing Scale – Also known as scale bed, it is usually found at the lens
barrel indicating pre-set distance in feet or in meters.

Glass Lens – A section of glass so shaped that it causes all light rays coming
from any point of the object and striking lens, to be bent inward.

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Grain Size – Refers to silver halides which are light sensitive and impregnated
in the emulsion exist as small crystals and upon development are converted to
pure silver granules.

Ground Glass – It is focused directly observing the image formed at the

ground glass screen, placed behind the taking lens.

Hardening Agent – Refers to potassium alum that solidifies the gelatin of the
sensitized materials which was soften in the developing solution.

Haze Filter – Used to remove or reduce the effect of smog or mist.

Hazy Light – A form of natural luminosity in which objects in open space casts
a transparent shadow.

Holder of Sensitized Material – Located at the opposite side of the lens. Its
function is to firmly hold the sensitized material in its place during exposure to
prevent the formation of a multiple or blurred image of the subject.

Hyper focal Distance – The nearest space at which a lens is focused with a
given particular diaphragm opening which will give the maximum depth of field.

Infrared Light – Infrared light are lights having wave lengths greater than 700
millimicrons. Its wave length ranges from 700 to 800 millimicrons. Infrared is
not a color or any kind of red. It is an invisible ray and detected by the skin as
heat.

Iris Diaphragm - It is a contrivance built into the lens mount, which may be
opened and closed to control the passage of light through a lens.

Lens – An essential part of the camera which is used to focus the light coming
from the subject, it is mainly responsible for the sharpness of the image formed
through which light passes during exposure.

Lens Board – It is a square of metal or small panel upon which the lens barrel
containing the diaphragm and lens elements is threaded.

Lens Diaphragm – Controls the amount of light that passes through the lens.

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Lens Hoods or Lens Shades – Are generally sections of tubular plastic of
aluminum, which are attached to the forward end of a lens barrel for purpose of
preventing stray light striking the lens causing “flares” or “ghosts” on the
negative.

Lever Type Shutter – Refers to a plane blade on the end of a handle that
covers the entire lens quite tightly; excluding all light.

Light – A form of energy and which is electromagnetic in nature It excites the

retina of the eye. Light makes things visible needed to produce a photograph.
The speed of light is always constant. The average speed of light is 186,000
miles per second. However, the wave length of the rays of light may vary
considerably.

Light Filters – Refers to photographic garnishes and accompaniments which

screen or filter part of the light rays passing through it.

Light Meter – A contrivance used in determining the intensity of light that strike
the subjects and affect the film. This light meter can be an extinction meter or
photo electric meter.

Light Sensitivity - Also known as the speed of the film. Such speed of the film
is determined thru its ASA numbers or DIN numbers given by the film
manufacturers. The literal meaning of ASA is American Standard and
Association and the DIN is German Industrial Standard. The former express
the speed in numbers thru arithmetical system and the later thru logarithmic
systems.

Light Tight Box – The body of the camera which is an enclosure devoid of
light.

Micro Photographs – Are commonly employed in certain commercial record

systems. Through this text, micro-photographs designate copies made on 35
mm, and smaller size films.

Micro Photography – It is the facsimile of photographs in which the image of

an object is reproduced much smaller than it actually is.

Negative - It is an exposed film, being a reverse of the original object.

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Negative Lens - Refers to a concave lens, which is characterized by the fact
that it is thinner on the middle than the edge and formed a virtual image on the
same side of the lens. It does not require focusing at all as everything will be
sharp, upright and clear, no matter how close or far away the object is. It is
also known as a diverging lens because of its power to diverge rays of light that
passes through it.

Normal Lens – A lens with a focal length of approximately equal or more but
not more than twice the diagonal of its negative material.

Neutral Density Filter – Used for reducing or decreasing the amount of light
transmitted without changing the color value.

Orthochromatic – Films sensitive to ultra-violet rays, blue and green color but
not sensitive to red color.

Panchromatic Film – Films sensitive to ultra-violet rays, to blue, green and

red color.

Parallax – It is the process of looking at an object closely with one eye and the
other and finding that the object is not seen from the same angle and has a
different apparent position or shape.

Photograph – A reproduction made with a camera and light-sensitive material.

Photographic Negative – Produced or developed by exposing the film in a

camera. The term “negative” is derived from the appearance of the
transparency. The lightest portions of the original appear the darkest in the
negative.

Photographic Positive – It is a print produced by passing light through the

negative, generally into photographic paper. The tonal values are directly
proportional to those of the original, that is, light areas of the original appearing
light, and same is true with the dark ones with dark areas.

Photography – An art or science that deals with the reproduction of images

through the action of light upon sensitized materials with the aid of a camera
and its accessories, and the chemical processes involved therein.

Photo Macrographs - Refers to photographs showing objects blown up or

enlarged up to around fifty diameters.

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Photomicrograph – It is a photograph made through a compound microscope
and may be a greatly enlarged image of a small part.

Photomicrography – Refers to photography showing initial magnifications

when the camera is used in relation with a microscope.

Polarizing Filter – A type of filter used to reduce or eliminate reflections on

highly reflective surfaces.

Police Photography – An art or science that deals with the study of the
principles of photography, the preparation of the photographic evidence and its
application to police work.

Positive Lens – A convex lens, which is characterized by the fact that it is

thicker on the middle than the edge and formed a real image on the opposite
side of the lens. It has a positive focal length and bends the light rays together
which make it as a converging lens.

Preservative – Used to protect the developing agents against aerial

oxidations. Usually the preservative chemical is sodium sulfite that will prevent
the formation of staining developer products, acts as a silver solvent and
increases the rate of development and density. Without this preservative, the
developing solution becomes weak and stains the gelatin during the
development process.

Printing – It refers to the production of a print from a negative by causing light

to pass all the way through the negative and strike a light-sensitive printing
paper which is developed later to give a finished photograph.

Printing Paper – It is a light sensitive material, which is not transparent and

will provide dense black and not clear whites.

Projection Print – It is a pattern made in an enlarger with a different speed

and with the use of a more light-sensitive paper.

Range Finder – Refers to optical mechanism utilized for measuring the angle
of convergence of light coming from a subject as seen from two apertures.

Rapid Rectilinear Lens – A combination of two achromatic lens with almost

the same focal length. This is corrected from some kinds of lens defects but
not on astigmatism defect.

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Relative Aperture – Refers to the light gathering power of the lens, expressed
in the F-number system. By increasing or decreasing the f-number numerically
it may control: the depth of field, the amount of light passing through the lens
and the degree of sharpness due to lens defect.

Reticulation – It is a negative having rough surface which resembles a

“crackle finish” point.

Sensitized Material - The results of photography in its final form is a

photograph. The materials necessary to produce a positive print is a sensitized
paper. Its emulsion is coated to opaque materials like paper.

Shutter – It is a gadget, used to block the path of light passing through the lens
and exposing the sensitized material.

Shutter Speed – Controls the duration of light passing through the lens.

Simple Miniscus Lens – This lens is usually found in simple or box camera. It
is uncorrected lens and therefore suffering from inherent defects of lenses.

Single Lens Reflex Type - This type of camera will eliminate the parallax error
and it will work well with all lenses. Never the less, the single lens reflex type is
more complex and liable to break down due to the mirror which gives way
every time an exposure is made. It is difficult to focus especially under dim
light conditions.

Solvent Silver Halide – Refers to sodium thiosulfite popularly known as hypo

solution. The function of the hypo solution is to remove the unexposed silver
halide.

Spherical Aberration – A lens defect in which photographic rays passing

through the edges of a lens are bent and refracted more sharply than those
passing through the central part of the lens.

Standard Photograph – Any file photograph which is not a microphotograph.

A standard photograph is made in film sizes of 2 ¼ by 1 ¼ inches or larger.

Telephoto Lens – Refers to a unique type of lens, with a focal length of more
than twice the diagonal of its negative material.

Tripod – It is a triple leg device which is adjustable to any reasonable

extension. This can be used in holding the camera when the camera is bulky
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or when using a shutter speed lower than one twenty five of a second to
prevent the movement that will produce blurred images in the photographs.

Twin Lens Reflex Type – The twin lens reflex camera has two lenses, one for
the viewing and focusing of the objects, and the other is the taking lens. In this
type of camera the image being photograph can be seen in flat surface as
reflected by the mirror behind the viewing lens. The viewing screen will help
the photographer in the accurate composition of the object to photograph as
her look into the camera at his waist level.

Ultraviolet Lamp - A gas light burning carbon disulphide vapor in oxygen or in

nitric oxide

Ultraviolet Photograph – It refers to any photograph, which records

documents under ultraviolet light or illumination.

Ultraviolet Rays – Radiations having the wavelength of 30 to 400 milli-

microns.

View Finders – It is a means of determining the field of view of the camera or

the extent of the coverage of the lens.

View finder Type – The smaller and the simplest type of camera is the view
finder camera. Its view finder framed the objects that will be recorded on the
film. Usually it is made of a simple lens located at the peep hole of the camera.
Very often the focusing system of this type of camera is in the view finder itself,
otherwise, the camera is a fixed focus one. This type of camera can provide
an excellent focusing system, especially at dim light condition.

View or Press Camera Type – The biggest and the most sophisticated among
the different type of cameras.

Visible Light – Rays having the wavelength of 400 to 700 milli-microns.

Wide Angle Lens – A lens with a focal length of less than the diagonal of its
negative material.

White Light – It is the combination of all the colors in the rainbow or spectrum,
mixed in the same proportions as they occur there.

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X-Rays – Radiations having a wavelength between .01 to 30 nanometer or
milli-microns, produced by passing an electric current through a special type of
vacuum tube.
Zone – Possible in wide angles lenses in which there are only three sets of
focusing, close (3 to 6 feet), medium (6 to 15 feet) and infinity (15 feet and
beyond).

Zoom Lens - This lens has variable focal lengths which can be adjusted
continuously by the movement of one or more elements in the lens system,
known as the variable focus lens.

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PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION (DACTYLOSCOPY)

Accidentals – Refers to relatively small number of patterns too irregular in

outline to be grouped with central pocket loops and double loops. They have
two or more deltas and a combination or fusion of two or more types of
patterns not including the plain, radial or ulnar arch. This category also includes
any freak pattern or accidental formation that does not conform to any
conventional type.

Accidental Whorl - Refers to a pattern which consists of a combination of two

different types of patterns with the exception of the plain arch, with two or more
deltas, or a pattern which possess some of the requirements for two or more
different types.

AFIS – The Automated Fingerprint Identification System is a biometric

identification (ID) methodology that uses digital imaging technology to obtain,
store, and analyze fingerprint data. The AFIS was originally used by the U.S.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in criminal cases. Lately, it has gained
favor for general identification and fraud prevention

Ankylosis – Refers to a bone condition wherein the finger joints cannot be

bent.

Appendage – A short ridge at the peak or top of a recurve usually at right

angle.

Approximating Patterns – Refers to outlines, which, because of extreme

complexities in their formations, cannot be assigned definite, specific
interpretations. These usually results in disagreements on the interpretation
among fingerprint experts.

Arches - Arches represent only about 5 per cent of the fingerprint patterns
encountered. In arch patterns, the ridges run from one side to the other of the
pattern, making no backward turn. There is ordinarily no delta, but where there
is the appearance of a delta, no recurving ridge must intervene between the
core and delta points.

Ball Zone – It is the large cushion below the base of the big toe. It also
corresponds to the thenar zone in palm rights.

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Bar or Rod –Refers to a single ending ridge in the center of a recurving ridge
of a loop.

Battley Single Fingerprint Method – Refers to a system of classifying and

organizing fingerprints devised by Harry Battley, London, England.

Bifurcating Ridge – It is a single ridge, which divides or forks into two ridges.

Blocking Out – Refers to the insertion on a fingerprint card the results of the
interpretation of all ten patterns. Represented by letters, symbols or numbers
on the card required for each of the rolled prints.

Calcar Zone – It refers to the area at the heel; very rarely do patterns show in
this zone, its ridge formation consisting of latitudinal striations.

Carpal Dental Zone – Area about the center of the palm, down near the wrist.
It is seldom expected to find a pattern in this zone, but when a delta does
appear there, comparison is easier.

Central Pocket Loop Whorl - Refers to a pattern which consist of at least one
recurving ridge, or an obstruction at right angles to the line of flow, with two
deltas, between which, when an imaginary line is drawn, no recurving ridge
within the inner pattern area is touched or cut.

Chain of Evidence – Also referred to as Chain of Custody , in court a person

must be able to account every minute of time the evidence has been in his or
someone else’s hands or custody from the time it was found at the scene of the
crime until it is offered as an exhibit in court.

Cheiloscopy – Refers to the examination of lip prints which may serve to

identify an individualize persons.

Chiroscopy – Is the scene of personal identification by means of friction ridge

characteristics existing on the palmar surface of the human hand.

Class Characteristics - Refers to that individuality that can be possessed by

more than one print. The class characteristics of friction ridge skin extend to
many factors other than digit or palm, or toe or sole, and the definable pattern
type. Patterns of the same type, by definition, may appear quite diverse.

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Classification – Refers to the display of fingerprint records into groups or
subgroups for filing purposes. It is a formula derivative from a complete set of
ten fingerprint patterns.

Classification of Approximating Patterns – Refers to inscription of all the

probable categorization for a set of prints, which contains one or more
uncertain patterns.

Cleaner’s Mark – Also known as Laundry Tag, It is a means of identification

that is solely based on a laundry tag, laundry or cleaner’s mark on the person’s
clothing.

Combination – It is the acceptance of all the possible variations of

classification, which a set of fingerprints may bring into being.

Composites - Refers to fingerprint patterns in which combinations of the

tented arch, loop and whorl are found in the same print, also patterns where
the majority of ridges are loops and a few ridges at the centre or side are
whorls. These are subdivided into central pocket loops, double loops and
accidentals.
Converging Ridge – Refers to a crest whose closed end is angular and
serves as a point of convergence; it is sharp and abrupt.

Core - The heart or the innermost center of a pattern.

Crime Scene Procedures – Refers to sound, lawful and proper approach in

the manner of crime scene searches.

Dactyloscopy – Also referred to as Fingerprint Identification it is the process of

comparing questioned and known friction skin ridge impressions from fingers.

Delta – Point on the first ridge formation at or exactly in front of the divergence
of the type lines.

Developing a Latent Print with Powder – The process of applying powder to

the print in such a way that the fine particles will adhere to the moisture left by
the ridges of the finger.

Dissociated Ridges – Refers to those odd ridge structures having no well-

defined patterns; the ridges are never fused, extremely short and are series of

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“patches” caused by a disturbance of developmental process at the pre-natal
life of an individual.

Distal – It is manifested when the exit of a loop formation points toward the
fingertips.

Diverging Ridges – Are two crests running side by side and abruptly
separating.

Dot ridge – An edge which resembles a point.

Double Loop Whorl – Refers to a pattern consisting of two distinct and

separate loop formations of different sizes, having two deltas and two sets of
shoulders.

Edgeoscopy – The study of the morphological characteristics of friction ridges;

shape or contour of the edges of friction ridges.

Enclosure - Refers to a split which does not stay open but in which the legs of
the bifurcation, after running along side by side for a short distance, come
together again to form a single ridge once more. It completely surrounds a
section of a furrow.

Ending Ridge – Refers to the terminus of a short or long ridge.

Envelop – Occurs when a staple encircles one or more rods.

Fibular Zone – Situated on the little toe side of the foot, just under the plantar
zone. It is on the side of the foot, which the fibula runs and patterns are seldom
located in this area. It corresponds to the ulna bone of the arm.

Filling – Refers to the process of finding the proper place in the fingerprint file
where a certain set of print belong and placing it there.

Filling Out – Refers to writing or inscribing on a fingerprint record card of all

known indispensable data about a subject, except the fingerprints themselves.

Final Classification – Refers to the ridges count of the loop on the right little
finger.

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Fingerprint – Refers to the reproduction on some smooth surface of the
design or pattern formed by the ridges on the inside of the end joint of a thumb
or finger.

Fingerprint Classification Index – Refers to succession of guide cards

having tabs on which are lettered the numerous fingerprint classification
combination.

Footprint Pattern Zones – Areas in the sole of the human foot containing
friction ridge characteristics where footprint identification is based.

Friction Ridges – Also referred to as epidermal or papillary ridges. They are

strips of skin on the inside end joints of our thumbs and fingers by which
fingerprints are created.

Furrows – They are canals or depressions between the ridges, which may be
compared with the low area in a tire tread.

Hypothenar Zone – This area comprises the large cushion below the base of
the little finger. It may contain whorls, loops, or combinations of both or no
pattern at all.

Ident – Also known as Catch, it refers to locating or finding of a previously filed

duplicate record card of the subject.

Incipient Ridges – Refers to those abnormal type of ridges found in a small

percentage of patterns. They are found in the furrows between two well-formed
ridges. They are narrow, short and badly formed.

Inner Whorl – A ridge whose course being traced from the left delta to the right
delta passes inside the right delta with three or more ridges intervening
between the right delta and the traced ridge.

Island Ridge – A single ridge which splits into two branches flowing side by
side toward the same direction at a certain point meets forming the original
ridge.

Key – Refers to the ridge count on the first loop in a set of prints, beginning
with the right thumb. The key is placed at the extreme left end of the
classification line. It is at all times shown in the numerator, no matter whether it
is obtained from a right or a left-hand finger.

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Latent Print – Hidden or concealed fingerprints found at the scene of a crime.
The latent finger mark, deposited by the fingertip pattern, is an intricate mixture
of natural secretions and contaminations from the environment.

Lateral Pocket Loop - Henry described lateral pocket loops as patterns whose
core points have their exits on the same side of one of the deltas

Line of Flow – Visible in a central pocket loop, determined by drawing an

imaginary line between the inner delta and the center of the innermost
recurving ridge.

Loop – Refers to a pattern in which one or more of the ridges start at one side
of the pattern, run toward the upper corner on the opposite side, then recurve
and start back toward the side from which they came originally, forming a delta
at the end of the pattern area and a loop with a core in the center. Loops
constitute or make up between 60 and 70 percent of the patterns encountered.

Major Divisions – They are produced by the counting of loops and the tracing
of whorl type patterns emerging on the left and right thumbs. These divisions
are used to subdivide large collections of sets that the primary, secondary, and
sub-secondary do not divide into adequately small groups to allow easy filing
and searching.

Make – Refers to the fact that identification has been made.

Meeting – Is one in which the ridge whose course being traced from the left
delta toward the right delta exactly meets the right delta with not more than two
deltas superseding between them.

Minutiae - Refers to the endings and the branching of the finger lines.

Non Numerical Patterns – Refers to outlines mainly used in making up

primary classifications that are not given numerical values.

Numerical Patterns – These are outlines, which are assigned number values
depending on which fingers they appear when making up the primary
classification.

Outer Whorl – Is the ridge whose course being traced from the left delta
toward the right delta passes outside the right delta with three or more ridges
intervening.

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Pairing Off – Method of arranging a set of fingerprints so that all numerator
fingers or values are above the line and that all denominator fingers or values
are below the line.

Palm Pattern Zones – Basis of palm print identification by means of the parts
of the human palms containing friction ridge characteristics.

Palmar Zone –This is the area that is situated at the bases of the index,
middle, ring, and little fingers.

Papillary Ridges – Also known as Friction ridges, it refers to common term

given to the ridges on the fingers, palms and soles of the feet.

Pattern Area – Part of a fingerprint which rests within the area surrounded by
type lines.

Pattern Interpretation – It is the process of designation of names of fingerprint

patterns.

Plain Arch – A pattern in which the ridges come in on one side of the pattern
and flow towards the other side, with a rise in the center, with no upward thrust,
no recurving ridge and no angular formation.

Plain Impression – The method of recording the center of the friction ridge
pattern. It is made by pressing an inked finger directly down upon a fingerprint
card without any rolling motion.

Plain Whorl - A pattern which consists of one or more ridges which make or
tend to make a complete circuit, with two deltas, between which, when an
imaginary line is drawn, at least one recurving ridge within the inner pattern
area is touched or cut.

Plantar Zone – Is an area occupying all of the “ball” of the foot not occupied by
the ball pattern zone.

Podoscopy – Science of identification through friction ridge characteristics

existing on sole of the human foot.

Polydactylism – Refers to the appearance of extra fingers as anatomically

known.

Porelon Pad – A special inking pad which requires no ink supply or roller.
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Poroscopy – It refers to the science of identification using the pores.

Post Mortem Fingerprinting – It is the process of taking fingerprints of a dead

person for identification purposes.

Primary Classification – Derived through the use of numbers assigned to

certain types of fingerprint patterns. It is the foremost classification which
means the initial “sorting” of sets fingerprints and acts as the key to all
fingerprint classification and filing.

Radial Loop – Occurs when the downward slope of the ridges about the core
is from the direction of the little finger toward the thumb.

Recurving Ridge – Refers to the ridge that bends back in the direction from
which it started.

Reference Classification – A second choice classification from a set of points

having approximating or disputed patterns.

Ridge Bifurcation – Refers to the forking of a single ridge into two or more
branches.

Ridge Characteristics – Minute or tiny details in the ridges of fingerprint

patterns which are used in comparing and identifying fingerprints. ( “Minutiae”
or “Galton” details)

Ridge Counter – Refers to a petite pointed instrument used for counting

ridges.

Ridge Counting – It is the process of counting ridges that cross or touch an

imaginary line drawn between the delta and core of a loop. The core and delta
are not counted, only the ridges that go across or touch the imaginary line are
counted.

Ridge Ending – An abrupt end of a ridge formation; it either ends pointing up

or down in a fingerprint pattern.

Ridge Tracing – Refers to the process of charting the ridge that originates
from the lower side of the left delta toward the right delta to see where it flows
in relation to the right delta.

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Rolled Impression – The process of recording the entire ridge pattern of the
nail joint by rolling an inked finger from one side of the fingernail to the other.

Short Ridge – A crest of limited length.

Shoulders of a Looping or Recurving Ridge – Points, one on each side of a

loop, just where the ridge positively begins and stops its recurve.

Sub-Secondary Classification – The ridge trace or ridge count symbols of the

patterns on the index, middle and ring fingers of both hands, whether all three
patterns are of the same type or not.

Sufficient Recurve – Consists of the space between the shoulders of a loop,

free of appendages which lie alongside upon it at a right angle on the outside
of the recurve.

Tented Arches – Are a variety of the arch family which is a transitional pattern,
because it bears a resemblance to a plain arch and a loop pattern.

Thenar Zone – Refers to the large cushion at the base of the thumb. On this
vicinity may appear whorls, loops or combinations of both.

Tibial Zone – This area is on the big toe of the foot in which patterns are
almost never found; but there are exceptional cases when they appear here.

Twin Loops - The ridges containing the core points have their exits on
different sides.

Type Lines – They refer to the two innermost ridges which start or go parallel,
diverge, and surround or tend to surround the pattern area.

Ulnar Loop – Manifested when the downward slope of the ridges about the
core is from the direction of the thumb toward the little finger.

Up thrust – Refers to an ending ridge of any distance end to end rising at a

sufficient degree from the horizontal plane.

Whorls - Between 25 and 35 per cent of the patterns encountered consist of

whorls. In a whorl, some of the ridges make a turn through at least one circuit.
Any fingerprint pattern which contains 2 or more deltas will be a whorl pattern.

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FORENSIC MEDICINE

Abortion - Is the expulsion of the products of conception before full term, while
others consider it as the forcible expulsion of the product of conception anytime
before the age of viability.

Abscess of the Brain - It is the infection of the brain brought about by

microorganisms and is characterized by the formation or edema of the brain.

Accidental Death - It is destruction of life without intent which occurs

unexpectedly and outside of human will.

Acute Hepatitis - It is the sudden and severe infection of the liver caused by
virus, bacteria and other toxins characterized by fever, and yellowish
discoloration of the body.

Acute Pancreatitis - It is the sudden inflammation of the pancreas, which

maybe caused by infection carried in the blood stream.

Agraphia – A brain disease which causes the inability of an individual to write

although he could still grasp the writing instrument.
Allele - One of the variant forms of a gene at a particular locus, or location, on
a chromosome. Different alleles produce variation in inherited characteristics.
For STR markers, each allele is the number of repeats of the short base
sequence.
Apparent Death - It is a state of temporary cessation of the vital activities of
the body or the vital processes where depressed to the minimum compatible
with life.

Anthrophy - Decreased in size of normally developed organ or tissue.

Asphixia - This is a cause of death due to interference of respiration.

Autopsy – Refers to the examination of the body after death by means of

dissection method.

Base Pair – Two bases that form a "rung of the DNA ladder." A DNA
nucleotide is made of a molecule of sugar, a molecule of phosphoric acid, and
a molecule called a base. The bases are the "letters" that spell out the genetic
code. In DNA, the code letters are A, T, G, and C, which stand for the
chemicals adenine, thymine, guanine, and cytosine, respectively. In base
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pairing, adenine always pairs with thymine, and guanine always pairs with
cytosine.

Biologic Death - The type of loss of life characterized by the absence of

cognitive functions and awareness artificial support system.

Burial - Is a method of placing the dead body in the grave.

Cadaveric Spasm – Also known as instantaneous rigor, it refers to the

stiffening of certain groups of muscles which occurs immediately at the
moment of death, it is associated with violent deaths due to the extreme injury
and tensions to the nervous system.

Calsson’s Disease - Condition seen in diverse underwater when exposed to

an increase environmental pressure and characterized by the greater
combining capacity of the blood as well as accumulation of the gases.

Cerebral Concussion - It is a condition of the brain resulting from sudden

jarring or stunning of the brain, which follows a head injury.

Cerebral Embolism - This is the blocking of the blood vessels in the brain by
foreign bodies which maybe in air, fatty substances or septic bodies.

Champignon D’ Ocume – whitish foam at the mouth or nostril the mucus

secretion of the respiratory tract.

Chemical Burn - A type of burn due to chemicals like strong acids, alkali’s and
other irritant substances that produce extensive destruction of tissues and
usually heal by the formation of scars.

Chromosomes - One of the threadlike "packages" of genes and other DNA in

the nucleus of a cell.
Chronic Starvation - It is the starvation wherein the deprivation of food and or
water occurs in gradual manner.

Closed Wound – An injury where there is no break in the overlying skin or

tissues.

Coagulation in the Blood – The process of solidification of the blood after

death.

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CODIS – Refers to a software program that operates local, state, and national
databases of DNA profiles from convicted offenders, unsolved crime scene
evidence, and missing persons. The odds that two individuals will have the
same 13-loci DNA profile are about one in one billion.

Cold Stiffening – Condition which is characterized by stiffening of the muscles

due to the solidification of fats, fluids and muscles as a result of the exposure
of dead bodies to extreme cold.

Coma - Is a profound stupor in sickness or after severe injury.

Compound Fracture – A fissure or crack where there is a loss of alignment of

the affected bone as well as break in the bone.

Congestion - It is the abnormal accumulation of blood in certain parts of the

body.

Contre Coup Injury - It is the physical injury that is found not at the site but
opposite of the site of the application of the force.

Contusion – Commonly known as bruises, it refers to a wound in the

substance of the true skin and in the subcutaneous cellular tissues
characterized by discoloration and swelling.

Coup Injury – Refers to a physical injury which is found at the site of the
application of the force.

Cutis Anserina – Known as goose flesh, it refers to a condition of the skin

usually in extremities manifested by pale and contracted skin.

Death - The absence of life in living matters or organisms.

Defloration – Refers to the laceration or rupture of the hymen of women

usually due to sexual intercourse.
DNA - The chemical inside the nucleus of a cell that carries the genetic
instructions for making living organisms.

Diffusion Lividity - It is a fixed or permanent discoloration when the blood

clothed inside the blood vessels or has diffused to different parts of the body.

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Dislocation – Refers to the displacement of the articular surfaces of the bones
forming the joints frequently secondary to trauma.
DYS# - D=DNA, Y=Y chromosome, S=a unique DNA segment. A label for
genetic markers on the Y chromosome. Each marker is designated by a
number, according to international conventions. At present, virtually all the DYS
designations are given to STR markers (a class often used in genetic
genealogy).
Embalming - Is the method of preserving the dead body for a certain period of
time by removing body fluids before decomposition.

Epilepsy - A nervous disease marked by seizure with convulsion and loss of

consciousness.

Exhumation - It is the raising or disinterring of the dead body remains in the

grave.

Extensive Injury - It is a physical injury that involved the greater area beyond
the site of force.

Euthanasia - It is a willful acceleration of death of a person in order to lessen

hi sufferings.

Fellatio - A sexual deviation undertaken by placing the male genital organ in

the mouth to attain sexual gratification.

Filiation - The civil status of the child in relation to his/her mother or father.

First Degree Burn - It is the burn which involves the superficial layer of the
skin or tissues characterized by redness and pain, but later on sloughing of the
skin after a few days. Example: Sunburn

Fracture – Refers to a break or solution in the continuity of the bone tissues

resulting from violence or from some existing pathology.

Friction Burn - A scald or scorch when the bodies come into contact with a
moving object that is either sliding or rotating.

Frostbite - It is a condition of exposure to cold temperature or certain parts of

the body which produces mechanical disruption of cell structure, it leads to
swelling, thrombosis and gangrene of the affected tissues.

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Gait – Refers to the natural or secondary manner of walking which may be
inherent or a result of disease or personality.
Genes - The functional and physical unit of heredity passed from parent to
offspring. Genes are pieces of DNA, and most genes contain the information
for making a specific protein.
Genome - The entire DNA contained in an organism or a cell, which includes
both the chromosomes within the nucleus and the DNA in mitochondria.
Grazes – Refers to an abrasion due to forcible contact with rough, hard objects
resulting to the irregular removal of the skin surface.

Heat Stiffening – Hardening of the muscles due to coagulation of muscle

protein when dead body is exposed to intense heat.

Heat Stroke - It is a failure of adequate heat elimination almost always related

to a breakdown of the sweating mechanism.

Hematoma - It is large extravasations of the blood in a newly formed cavity

secondary to trauma with swelling.

Homicidal Death - Homicide is the killing of another person with the intent but
without justification.

Homicidal Starvation - The hunger and undernourishment is done

intentionally as in neglected infants, mentally retarded, old and helpless
persons.

Hypostatic Lividity - It is the lividity when the discoloration is due to the blood
pooled in the most dependent areas of the body.

Hysteria - A psychoneurosis with symptoms based on conversion and

characterized by lack of control over acts.

Incised Wound – Refers to those injuries produced by sharp edged

instruments.

Infanticidal Death - It is a fatality which involves the killing of an infant less

than three days old.

Inundation - To flood or swamp.

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Keeler’s Polygraph Test – Also known as lie detector test, it is an
examination used to record the psychological changes associated with lying in
a subject.

Lacerated Wound – An injury or abrasion which results from blunt objects or

instruments.

Less Serious Physical Injury - A physical injury wherein the offended victim
is incapacitated for work or requires medical attendance for ten days or more
but not more than 30 days.

Leukemia - A disease of blood forming tissues characterized by an extensive

and abnormal production of mature and immature of white blood cells.

Liver Cirrhosis - It is the degeneration of white blood cells but proliferation of

internal tissues with fibrosis due to malnutrition, infection, toxins and alcoholic
resulting to decrease of liver functions.

Livor Mortis – Refers to the discoloration of the body after death when blood
tends to pool in blood vessels of the most dependent part of the body, also
referred to as post mortem lividity.

Locus - A point in the genome, identified by a marker, which can be mapped

by some means. It does not necessarily correspond to a gene. A single gene
may have several loci within it (each defined by different markers) and these
markers may be separated in genetic or physical mapping experiments. In
such cases, it is useful to define these different loci, but normally the gene
name should be used to designate the gene itself, as this usually will convey
the most information.

Locus Minoris Resistencia - A physical injury which can be found in some

areas offering the least resistance to the force applied.

Lust Murder - Aggressive sexual behavior wherein the offender performs

sexual intercourse and kills the victim afterwards.

Maceration – Refers to the softening of tissues of the body when placed in a

fluid medium in the absence of bacteria which occurs in the death of the fetus
in the uterus.

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Marker - Also known as a genetic marker, a segment of DNA with an
identifiable physical location on a chromosome whose inheritance can be
followed. A marker can be a gene, or it can be some section of DNA with no
known function. Because DNA segments that lie near each other on a
chromosome tend to be inherited together, markers are often used as indirect
ways of tracking the inheritance pattern of genes that have not yet been
identified, but whose approximate locations are known.

Masturbation - A form of sexual deviation done by fondling or touching the

external genital organ to attain sexual pleasure.

Medicine – Refers to the science and art which deals with the prevention and
treatment of illnesses or diseases.

Micro Satellite - Repetitive stretches of short sequences of DNA used as

genetic markers to track inheritance in families.

Molecular Death - It is the cessation of life of the individual cells in the body
which occurs one at a time after somatic death.

Mortal Wound – Injury or damage which when inflicted to the body is

immediately followed by death or is serious enough that will endanger the life
of the victim.
Mutation - A permanent structural alteration in DNA.
Mutilation - The intentional act of looping any parts of the living body.

Narcissism - A sexual perversion which a sexual pleasure attained in watching

itself in the mirror.

Natural Death - Fatality due to disease or ailment in the body.

Necrosis - Death of the cells as a result of disease or injury.

Negligent Death - It is a loss of life due to reckless impudence, negligence

lack of skill or lack of foresight.

Non-Mortal Wound – Damage or injury when inflicted to the body is not

immediately followed by death.

Nymphomania - It is an excessive desire for sexual intercourse in the female.

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Open Wound - Cut where there is a break or rupture of the skin tissues.

Partialism - A sexual deviation in male who have skills on certain parts of

female to arouse sexual pressure.

Paternity - Civil status of father to his begotten son.

PCR Analysis - Polymerase Chain Reaction is used to make millions of exact

copies of DNA from a biological sample. DNA amplification with PCR allows
DNA analysis on biological samples as small as a few skin cells.

Penetrating Wound – An injury or damage caused by an instrument or any

object which pierces solid organ and tissues.

Perforated Peptic - It is the rupture of the stomach or duodenum to deepening

wound in the walls of the stomach or duodenum.

Perforated Tubal Pregnancy - This condition is the rupture of the fallopian

tube of the female.

Perforating Wound – An injury when there is contact on the inner and outer
portions of a hollow organ.

Petechiae - These are minute, pinpoint, circum scribe extravasations of the

blood in the tissue.

Physiologic Death - A type of mortality when all the vital organs have ceased
to function.

Pluralism - Sexual activity done by two or more couples; group sex.

Post-Mortem Lividity - A discoloration of the body after death when the blood
tends to pool in the blood vessels of the most dependent portions of the body.
The onset of post mortem lividity is 20-30 minutes and the color change in the
body is complete in approximately 12 hours.

Precipitin Test – This examination is of value in determining whether the

blood is of human origin or not.

Pregnancy - Is a condition or state of a woman who has within her body the
growing product of conception or a fecundated germ.

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Punctured Wounds – Those injuries produced by sharp pointed instruments.

Purine Bases - Adenine and guanine are purines. Purines are the larger of the
two types of bases found in DNA. The 9 atoms that make up the fused rings
are 5 carbons, 4 nitrogen numbered 1-9. With all ring atoms lie in the same
plane.

Putrefaction – Refers to the process of dissolution of tissues by the digestive

action of enzymes and bacteria which results to softening and liquefaction of
tissues, typically accompanied by change of tissue color and the liberation of
foul smelling gases.

Rigor Mortis – Also known as post mortem rigidity, it is a stage of muscular

change which is characterized by hardening of muscles due to biological
changes of muscle proteins.

RFLP - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism is a technique for

analyzing the variable lengths of DNA fragments that result from digesting a
DNA sample with a special kind of enzyme.

Saponfication – Also known as Adipocere formation, it is the formation of a

soft, friable, and brownish white greasy substance in the soft fatty tissues of the
body which occurs after death.

Satyriasis - An excessive desire for sexual intercourse in the male.

Scald – A burn due to contact with a hot or boiling liquid or gas over the body
characterized by redness, pain and blister formation.

Scapula - Is a pair of bones at the back wherein changes may occur to

determine the age of a person after death.

Second Degree Burn - It is the burn which involves the superficial layer of the
skin and tissue, nerve endings and is characterized by the formation of blisters
containing fluid over the tissues. This is the most painful because of the
irritation of the nerve endings.

Serious Physical Injury - A physical injury where in the victim is wounded,

beater or assaulted and is in capacitated for work requires medical attendance
for more than 30 days.

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Sexual Deviation - Is an unnatural sexual behavior by certain individuals that
is done usually in privacy but may be done in public or done in public or done
in a bizarre manner.
Short Tandem Repeats (STR) – Refers to genetic marker consisting of
multiple copies of an identical DNA sequence arranged in direct succession in
a particular region of a chromosome. Occasionally, one will mutate by the gain
or loss of one repeat. (Also known as microsatellite)
Sodomy - Form of sexual perversion seen in persons in the prison or mental
hospital which sexual intercourse is done to the anus of another person.

Somatic Death - It is a complete, continues cessation of respiration, circulation

and almost all brain function of an organism.

Sprain - It is the staining or tearing of the particular tendons, ligaments and

muscles characterized by swelling, discoloration of tissues involved and
extreme pain.

Stab Wounds – Refers to injuries produced by sharp pointed and sharp edged
instruments.

Stage of Primary Flaccidity – Refers to muscular change upon death

characterized by relaxation of muscles and loss of their natural tone.

Stage of Secondary Flaccidity – The phase of molecular change after death

characterized by softening and flaccidity of the muscles which no longer
responds to mechanical stimulation.

State of Suspended Animation – Also referred to as apparent death, it is a

temporary and transient cessation of the vital functions of the body due to
disease, external stimulus or other forms of influence.

STR Analysis – Short tandem repeat technology is used to evaluate specific

regions (loci) within nuclear DNA. Variability in STR regions can be used to
distinguish one DNA profile from another.

Suffocation - Stoppage of respiration, or asphyxia due to such stoppage.

Suicidal Death - A fatality or loss of life due to killing or destruction of oneself.

Superficial Wound – An injury which involves the outer layer of the skin.

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Surgery – A branch of medicine which deals with the part of the body which
needs drugs and operative techniques in order to remedy or alleviate the
defect or illness.

Third Degree Burn – It is the burn involving the skin, nerves, muscles and
bones which is usually encountered in victims of conflagrations. This is the
most severe burn because the victim usually dies from loss of fluid and
electrolyte in the body and massive infection

Toxicology - Is the science or study of poison s that affects the body.

Trance - It is a profound or abnormal sleep.

Trauma – Refers to an injury or wound produced by external forces.

Traumatic Crush Asphyxia - Is a condition of asphyxia death to external

compression of the thorax and abdomen with consequent prevention of
respiratory movement.

Trench Foot - A condition usually seem among those walking over the snow
where the foot is exposed to freezing temperature.

Troilism - A sexual act involving three persons performing sexual intercourse

at the same time.

Uremia - It is the accumulation of substances the blood ordinarily eliminated in

the urine.

Ventricular Fibrillation - It is the irregular twitching of the walls of the ventricle

of the heart.

Vertigo - A disturbed visual sensation in relation to space.

Violent Death - It is loss of life due to injuries by some forms as outside force
where in the physical injuries inflicted is the proximate cause of death.

Virgo Intacta – Refers to a woman who has had several sexual intercourses
but had not yet born a child.

Voyeurism - A sexual act performed by the male and sometimes time the
female wherein sexual pleasure is attained by seeing persons undressing or
engaged in sexual activity.
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POLYGRAPHY

1.5 – Ohms of skin electrical resistance sensitivity.

60 – Millimeter of mercury shown in the spyghmo-dial.

A or M – Automatic or manual galvo amplifier.

+ - A chart marking which indicates a yes answer of the subject to a question.

- - A chart marking which indicates a no answer of the subject to a question.

Admission - A self-incriminating statement which falls short of an

acknowledgement of guilt.

Angelo Mosso – A pioneer who developed in 1895 a type of sphygmanometer

and utilized a scientific cradle and focus on the significance

Balance Ordeal - This existed in the 600 B.C. as early as the Institute of
Vishnu wherein the practice of determining the veracity of the statement of the
accused by placing him on one scale of balance and in the other scale a
counter balance. Then the accused is asked to step down the scale while the
judge delivers a catchphrase to the balance. After the exhortation, the accused
is asked to go back to the scale and if he is found to be lighter than before he
was adjudged as acquitted.

Black Lie – A kind of lie used by a person to deceive others.

Blood Pressure Cuff Assembly – Part of the cardio component attached on

the right arm of the subject.

Boiling Water Ordeal - This was prevalent in Africa. This test of deception is
undertaken by asking those persons suspected of committing a crime to place
their right arm into the boiling pot to the elbow, after plunging their arm they are
asked to take a rest at the same time, the one who after the next afternoon has
lost some of his skin or showed a blister would be determined as the person
guilty of committing a crime.

Card Test – It is conducted immediately after the completion of the first test
while the blood pressure cuff is still deflated. The subject is asked to choose
one from seven numbered cards, take it and return the same without telling the
examiner or otherwise identifying the chosen number. The card is then shuffled
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by the examiner and instructs the subject to answer NO concerning the cards
when shown. This is to single out which among the answers given by the
subject is a lie. This is undertaken to stimulate lying subjects into specific
responsiveness to the subsequent relevant questions and to afford the lying
subject an opportunity to try to distort the polygraph examination tracings which
would result in exposing his deception with respect to the matter under
investigation.

Cardiospygmoraph - A device which consists of blood pressure cuff and

rubber pump and is fastened around the subject’s right arm. It records the
changes in pulse rate and blood pressure.

Cesare Lombroso - An Italian scientist who in 1885 used hydrospygmograph

procedure and was credited to be the pioneer who envisioned the idea of using
scientific procedures to lie detection. He is considered as the first person to use
an instrument for the purpose of detecting deception.

Chart - Also refers to polygrams, it is the combined record of the

cardiospygmograph, galvanograph and pneumograph tracings recorded from a
series of questions.

Confession - Refers to the voluntary statement made by a person and given to

proper authorities wherein he acknowledges himself to be guilty of an offense
and discloses circumstances of his act and participation he had in the felony.

Control Question – Answerable by NO it is designed to produce a response

from an innocent subject.

Diacritic Notch – A short horizontal line on cardio tracing located at the middle
of diastolic stern.

Deception - It is an act of misleading or deceiving usually accomplished by

lying or untruthful remarks.

Deception Detection Method – It is a method of gathering and knowing

information from the subject about the crime in dispute employing the use of
machine or device. Drugs or substances and other accessory means. Most of
the tests are not reliable and thus the information gathered are not admissible
in court as evidence but only important to be used for further investigation.

Detection - Refers to the act of discovering the existence, fact or presence of

something obscure or ambiguous.
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Donkey’s Tail Ordeal – This is undertaken by placing the accused and a
donkey in one room, if after some time, the donkey cries, the accused is
adjudged as guilty of the offense charged against him.

Emotion – An acute disturbance of an individual as a whole, psychological in

origin involving behavior conscious experience and visceral functions.

Evidence Connecting Question - Intended to stimulate the subject and focus

his attention on the probability of incriminating proof that would tend to
establish his guilt.

Fear - Refers to an emotional reaction to explicit or specific danger that

appears to go beyond a person’s defensive power.

Finger Electrode Plate – A part of the galvanograph assembly attached on

the left fingers of the subject.

Galvanograph - An apparatus used to record subject’s skin resistance to a

small amount of electricity. It is made up of electrodes attached to the finger of
the left hand, or to the index and ring finger of the left hand, or to the palmar or
dorsal surface of the left hand.

General Question Test - Consists of series of irrelevant and relevant

questions asked in a planned manner.

Guilt Complex Test – In cases where the subject is overly responsive, this
test is given which consist of a test pertaining to a purely fictitious incident of a
similar nature to the one under query. It is designed to compare the
responsiveness on it with those that appeared on the actual test record
wherein questions asked are those which pertains to that which is under
investigation. This test is designed for diagnostic purpose to aid in the post
examination interrogation of a lying subject.

Heredity – The transmission of mental and physical traits from parents to

offspring.

Harold Burtt - A scientist who in 1918, determined that the respiratory

changes were signs of deception and concluded that systolic pressure changes
are valuable in determining deception.

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Initial Interview – Usually conducted by the investigator handling the case or a
polygraph examiner who was given brief but significant details of the case it is
designed to obtain pertinent information necessary for the conduct of the
polygraph test.

Irrelevant Questions - Are those query that do not relate to the matter under
investigation and deals with a known fact about which the subject cannot lie.

John A. Larson - A pioneer who in 1921 developed an instrument capable of

simultaneously and continuously recording blood pressure, pulse rate and
respiration. His invention was designated as “the Bread Lie Detector”.

Keymograph - A motorized component that pulls or drives the chart paper

under the recording pen concurrently at the rate of 6 to 12 inches per minute.

Knowledge Questions - Intended to probe whether the subject possesses

information regarding the identity of the offender.

Leonard Keeler – An American Criminologist who in 1926 he invented the

keymograph machine. In 1949, the “Keeler’s polygraph” incorporated the
galvanograph with measurement, blood pressure and respiration component
and keymograph component. He also devised a metal recoding bellow, rolled
chart paper and the method of question formulation used in polygraph
examination.

Lie Detector Test – Also known as “Keeler’s Polygraph Test” is a test used to
record physiological changes associated with lying in a subject. The polygraph
machine will record the blood pressure, respiratory rate and the skin resistance
to electricity in a graphing paper. This instrument is an accurate, reliable
delicately engineered used as a scientific method to exonerate the innocent
and to detect the guilty.

Lying - Is the conveying or uttering of falsehood or misleading impression, with

the intention of affecting wrongfully the acts, opinion or affection to another.

Mixed Question Test - This consists of an arrangement of first and third test
questions, administered for the purpose of discounting possible factor of
accidental responses and to compare the degree of reaction between control
and relevant questions.

Normal Response – A racing on the chart wherein the subject answered the
irrelevant questions.
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Narco-Analysis – also known as Narco-synthesis or Administration of Truth

Serum, this is a deception detection method using narcotic or anesthetic drug
in order to get information from the subject.

Normal Tracing - A tracing of the subject produced when no irrelevant

question was asked.

Peak of Tension Test - Answerable only by NO, this test is only made
possible when there is no widespread publicity about a crime where intimate
details as to the method of commission of certain facts of the case is only
known by the actor of the crime, the victim and the investigator.

Pneumograph - It is a device which records the changes of respiration and

breathing of the subject, consisting of 10-inch convoluted tubes fastened
together around the subject’s abdomen and chest.

Pre-test Interview – Administered by the polygraph examiner designed to

condition or prepare the subject for the actual polygraph test. Its duration
usually lasts 20 to 30 minutes. At this stage, the rights of the subject are
explained, his consent are obtained as well as personal data and the
determination whether the subject is mentally, physically and psychologically
prepared to undergo the polygraph test.

Polygraph - Refers to an instrument for recording changes in blood pressure,

respiration, pulse rate and skin resistance as sign or indication of emotional
disturbance especially of lying when questioned.

Polygraph Examiner - The person who administers or conduct the lie

detection test by the use of a polygraph machine.

Polygraphy - It is the scientific method of detecting deception with the use of a

polygraph contraption.

Post Test Interview – It is similar to the method of interrogation administered

by the polygraph examiner which is designed to obtain admission or confession
of the subject. An interview is conducted when the subject indicates an
innocent response, while interrogation is undertaken if signs of deception are
indicated by the results of the actual polygraph test. In cases wherein the
polygraph result indicates that the subject is innocent, it is the duty of the
examiner to cordially release the subject and to thank the subject for giving
consideration and cooperation.
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Reaction - It refers to any activity aroused in an organism by a stimulus. It is
an action or mental attitude induced by an external influence.

Red Hot Iron Ordeal – This from of test was prevalent in India, specifically
from those living in the hill tribes of Rajhamal in the North of Bengal. The
accused to prove his innocence was asked to lick a red hot iron for nine times
unless burnt sooner, if the tongue is burned, the accused was put to death guilt
was believed to make the tongue dry.

Red Water Ordeal – This form of trial is undertaken where the accused is
asked to fast for twelve hours, and then he is asked to swallow a small amount
of rice and drink dark colored water. If this acts as an emetic and the accused
rejects all of the rice, he is determined innocent from the charges. This was
based on the belief that the fetish of the victim enters the body through the
mouth with the emetic red water; it examines the heart of the accused and if it
finds him innocent brings up the rice in evidence.

Relevant Questions – Direct query having precise and specific relation with
the felony. It is designed to produce emotional response in subject’s trying to
craft deceptive statements. It is answerable by NO.

Response - Refers to any inhibition or activity of previous motion of an

organism or of effector organ or part of the organism resulting from simulation
or suggestion.

Rice Chewing Ordeal – In 1150 A.D. the Roman Catholic clergy had made full
use of Indian practice of ordeals specifically that of the rice chewing ordeal.
Concentrated rice is the article selected instead of cheese and bread, if the
accused who is asked to chew the concentrated rice is unable to swallow a
single grain he is adjudged as guilty. This was based on the premise that a
person conscious of their crime and fearful of the punishment from God would
feel a suffocating sensation in their throat; they would then fall on their knees
and confess the crime.

Sacrifice Question - Reveals a subjects norms and stimulus excitement level

it gives us a clue which pertains to the attitude of the subject’s acceptance.

Secondary Questions – Also known as weak relevant questions it is further

classified as either Sacrifice relevant, knowledge or evidence-connecting
questions.

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Silent Answer Test - This is confirmatory test because the subject is afraid of
the unfamiliar and the unknown. It is an examination in which the subject is
instructed by the examiner to avoid audible response to the questions asked.

Specific Response - It is any variation or deviation from the normal tracing of

the subject.

Sphygmomanometer - The part of the cardio component which indicates the

air pressure in the system in millimeters of mercury.

Sticker – In 1897 he worked on the galvanograph component and studied the

influence and relation of the sweat glands to skin resistance.

Stimulus - Refers to the motion or force reaching the organism and excites the
receptors. It is a force that produces the organism or any of its part to activity.

Stimulus Association Test - In this test, the subject will be interviewed,

wherein a group of stimulus words or objects or person will be presented to the
subject. He will then be instructed to answer the questions as quickly as
possible. The time interval between each relevant questions and answers were
noted down as well as the reaction of the subject to the stimulus words or
object or person related to the crime in dispute. The time interval and the
reaction of the subject will be studied by the interrogator. A person presumed
to be guilty will usually make a mistake or will have long time interval in
answering questions.

Strong Relevant Question - Refers to a verbal motivation of primary

importance projected in a form of a question which overcomes the
psychological excitement level and causes three major components tracing
change from the subject’s psychological norm.

Subject - Also known as examinee refers to a person undergoing a polygraph

examination or test.

Trial by Combat - A primitive practice of detecting deception whereby

controversies in accusations are settled by means of duel, the victor will be
spared from the consequences while the loser will be pronounced guilty.

Veraguth – In 1907, he formulated the term Psycho-galvanic skin reflex. He

claimed that electrical phenomena are due to the activity of the sweat glands.

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Vittorio Bennussi – A pioneer who in 1914, noted changes in inhalation and
exhalation ratio occurring during deception. He recorded the respiratory curves
of the pneumograph.

Weak Relevant Questions - Secondary queries which are concerned with the
less important elements of the offense and deals mostly on guilty knowledge
and partial involvement.

William M. Marston - The creator of the systolic blood pressure test, which
lead to the creation of the polygraph (lie detector). Because of his discovery,
Marston was convinced that women were more honest and reliable than men
and could work faster and more accurately.

X/60/1.5 A – The first marking of the examiner on a polygraph chart.

XX – In a polygraph chart it indicates the end of the test or examination.

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FORENSIC BALLISTICS

Accidental Characteristics – These are indications unusual to one weapon or

to each cartridge case and bullet, ammunition or projectile fired in the same
gun.

Alloy – Barely means the combination of metals.

Ammunition - Shall refer to loaded shell for rifles, muskets, carbines,

shotguns, revolvers and pistols from which a bullet, ball, shot, shell or other
missiles maybe fired by means of gunpowder or other explosives. The term
also includes ammunition for air rifle.

Antimony – An element used as an alloy with lead in bullets for solidifying the
projectile.

Anvil – Refers to a tiny piece of metal, which is positioned in the primer cup
and forms the point of resistance as the firing pin strikes the primer, thereby
creating friction which discharges the priming composition.

Air Rifle – A weapon which is designed to shoot pellets by means of

compressed air.

Artillery – Are those firearms used to propel projectile more than one inch in
diameter.

Automatic – Attributed to a weapon when the mechanism is so arranged that it

will fire continuously when the trigger is depressed.

Ballistics – Refers to the science of the motion of projectiles; or the study of

the use, movement, and construction of projectiles such as bombs, bullets and
shells, etc.

Bolt Action Type - Refers to weapons in which the breech closure is in line
with the bore at all times; manually reciprocated to load, unload and cock; and
is locked in place by breech bolt lugs.

Battery Cup - It is the small cup which holds the primer.

Belted Type - A cartridge cases where there is a protruding metal around the
body of the cartridge case near the rim.

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Bore – Refers to the cylindrical passage of the firearm through which the
projectile travels.

Breech – It is the rear extremity of the rifle.

Breechblock – The steel block which closes the rear of the bore aligned with
the force of the charge.

Breech face – The face of the block that comes in contact with the shell head
against the force of the charge.

Breech Marks - By far the most common impressed action marks on cartridge
cases are breech marks. Most fired cartridge cases are identified as having
been fired by a specific firearm through the identification of breech marks.

Buck Shots – Refers to large sized shots made by molding.

Bulging – Refers to the swelling or enlargement of a gun barrel.

Bullet – It is a projectile or slug intended or designed to be fired from a firearm.

Bullet Comparison Microscope – It is an optical gadget used essentially to

compare two bullets or fired cartridge cases to determine whether or not they
were both fired from the same firearm.

Bullet Recovery Box – It is a box-like structure made of metal or wood with

one open end into which the shot is fired, filled in with cotton or pulp to slow
down and trap the bullet or projectile.

Bullet Velocity – Refers to the speed or momentum at which a bullet travels

forward.

Butt – Usually associated with rifles indicating the lower end of the stock.

Button Rifling - Probably the most common method used today to rifle barrels
is button rifling. Button rifling uses a different approach to forming the grooves
in the barrel. A button as is a very hard steel plug that is forced down an
unrifled barrel. The grooves are then formed in the barrel under very high
pressure. The pressure created to form the rifling in the barrel hardens and
polishes the inside of the barrel.

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Caliber – Refers to the diameter of bore measured in hundredths of an inch,
measured from land to land.

Calipher – A measuring apparatus used in the calibration of the bullets and

gun bores.

Cannelure - Refers to a knurled ring around the body of the bullet that serves
as lubricant to lessen friction.

Cannelured Bullet - Refers to an elongated bullet with grooves around it, used
for crimping purposes or holding the lubricant.

Cartridge – Refers to a single unit of ammunition consisting of a cartridge

case, containing the propellant powder, with the primer at one end and the
bullet at the other end.
Carbine – Named after David “Carbine” Williams is a caliber .30 short barrel
rifle having a barrel not longer than 22 inches.

Cartridge Case – It is tubular metallic container, which is designed to hold the

bullet, primer, and propellant powder.

Center Fire Cartridge – It is a cartridge case where the priming is located in

the center of the base.

Chamber – It is the back end of the barrel, which receives the shell or cartridge
or part of the weapon in which the cartridge is positioned for firing.

Chamber Marks - One of the most common striated action marks are called
chamber marks. Roughness in the chamber of a firearm can scratch the outer
walls of a cartridge case when loaded and removed from the chamber. Most
chamber marks occur after the cartridge is fired. Cartridge cases expand when
fired pressing out against the walls of the chamber. When they are pulled out
of the chamber, the sides of the cartridge case can be scratched.

Chilled Shot – Produced by mixing antimony with the lead, it is referred to as

hard shot.

Choke – The degree of constriction applied in the muzzle of the shotgun to

decrease the spread of shots.

Combustion – It refers to the burning of the powder in the barrel.

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Cone – It is the reduction of diameter in a barrel where the chamber bonds the
bore.

Corrosion – Refers to the deterioration within the barrel caused by the

chemical action of the products of combustion after firing.

Crimp – Part of the mouth of the cartridge case that is turned in upon the
bullet, it aids in the holding of the bullet out of the neck which affects the
burning rate of the gun powder.

Crimping – It is a mechanical operation engaged in loading metallic cartridges,

which consists in turning over slightly or compressing the mouth of the metallic
shell or case to hold the bullet securely in its place.

Cylinder – Refers to a chamber inconsistent in number in different revolvers,

which is brought in line with the barrel where a particular cartridge is to be fired.

Damascus Barrel – Utilized in old shotguns, the barrel is constructed by

braiding together steel and iron and bars or wires.

Double Action Firearm – It is a kind of handgun in which pressure upon the

trigger both cocks and releases the hammer.

Double-Base – It is a powder containing nitroglycerin and nitrocellulose as

basic explosive ingredients.

Drop Shot – Basically means soft shot.

Ejector – The apparatus in a firearm which causes the empty shell to be

thrown out of the gun.

Electrochemical Rifling -Is a process that eliminates the conventional

machining of metal, rifling is formed by wet-etching the interior of a barrel under
an electric current. The metal inside the barrel is actually eaten away or
dissolved to create grooves in the barrel. An electrode (cathode) that has
metal strips in the shape of the rifling is placed in the barrel (anode) and the
assembly is submerged in a salt solution. An electric current is applied and the
electrode is moved down the length of the barrel and twisted to create the
spiral shaped grooves. As the current travels from the barrel to the electrode
metal is removed by electrolysis thus forming the grooves in the barrel. This
process creates the rifling in the barrel very quickly and does not require
consumable tooling.
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Exterior Ballistics – It is the study of the flight of the projectile as it leaves the
barrel of the firearm; until it hits the target.

Extractor – The device in a firearm which bring about the empty shell to be
withdrawn from the chamber.

Extractor Marks - Another action mark, usually found in a striated form, are
those created by the extractor of most auto-loading or repeating firearms. The
extractor is a small part sometimes resembling a hook that is used to remove a
cartridge or cartridge case from the chamber of a firearm. As the slide of the
pistol moves to the rear, the extractor pulls the cartridge case along with it until
it is ejected from the pistol. The extractor may or may not leave an identifiable
mark on the cartridge case. This is true if the cartridge is fired or simply hand
chambered and extracted without firing.

Firearm – A common term for an instrument used for the propulsion of

projectile by the expansive force of gasses coming from burning powder. As
described under sec 877 of the Revised Administrative Code, Firearms or arms
includes rifles, muskets, carbines, shotguns, revolvers and pistols and all other
deadly weapons from which a bullet, ball, shot shell or any other missile may
be discharged by means of gunpowder or other explosives. The term also
includes air rifles except such as being of small caliber and limited range used
as toys. The barrel of any firearm shall be considered as a complete firearm for
all purposes.

Firearms Examiner – An individual working in the field of firearms examination

and identification.

Firearm Identification – It is the science by which one can determine whether

or not a particular bullet was fired from a firearm. It is the knowledge with which
one is able to reveal any pertinent facts about ammunition or firearms.

Firearm’s Identification Technician – Same as firearms examiner.

Firing Pin Impressions – They refer to imprints which indentations are

created when the firing pin of a firearm strikes the primer of center fire cartridge
case or the rim of a rim fire cartridge case. If the nose of the firing pin has
manufacturing imperfections or damage, these potentially unique
characteristics can be impressed into the metal of the primer or rim of the
cartridge case. Firing pin impressions also can be found on live cartridges.

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Flat-Point Bullet – One with unfilled or hollow point for the purpose of
increasing the mushrooming effect upon impact.

Foot Pound – Refers to the capacity to lift one pound at the height of one foot.

Forensic Ballistics – Refers to the study of firearms identification by means of

the ammunition fired through them.

Foulings – Refers to the accumulation of a deposit within the bore of a firearm

caused by solid waste products after the cartridge is fired.

Full Automatic Pistol – Refers to a firearm which continues to fire as long as

the trigger is depressed and cartridges stay in the feed belt or magazine.

Fulminate – Refers to one of the basic ingredients of the priming mixture.

Gallery Load – A compact or light charge in cartridges for use indoors.

Gauge – The diameter of the shotgun barrel.

Grooves – Refers to the cavities or voids inside the rifle barrel, by which a
bullet when forced forward, receives a spinning motion, making its flight
accurate.

Gun – Any tubular device intended for projecting missiles.

Hammer Forged Rifling - The latest mechanical method of rifling barrels is

accomplished through a process called hammer forging. Hammer forging
produces a type of rifling called polygonal rifling. A hardened steel mandrel is
produced with the shape of the rifling formed on its outer surface. The mandrel
is inserted into a barrel blank and the outer surface of the barrel is machine
hammered. The hammering forces the barrel material down against the
mandrel and the inner surface of the barrel takes on the shape of the
mandrel. The mandrel is then removed from the barrel and the outer surface of
the barrel is cleaned up.

Hangs fire – Slow or delayed combustion which causes the cartridge to fail to
explode on time.

Head stamp – It is the design the manufacturer places on the base of a

cartridge case to indicate name of the maker and the year it was made.

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Impact – A force or blow of a bullet striking an object.

Interior Ballistics – Refers to the study of the motions of projectile while it is in

the gun.

Jacket – it is the covering of a bullet.

Jacketed Bullet – It is a lead core or center bullet with the outside covering or
jacket is made of any number of the harder metals such as brass, copper,
plated steel, gliding metal or cupro-nickel.

Keyhole Shot - Refers to the process of tumbling of a bullet in flight hitting

sideways, usually due to worn out or over-sized barrels.

Lands – Refers to the raised portion between the grooves inside the barrel.

Leading – Used to indicate or denote the presence of lead on the inside of a

barrel.

Lever Action Type – Are those weapons designed wherein the breech
mechanism is cycled by an external lever generally below the receiver.

Magazine – Reservoir or devise to hold extra cartridges.

Metal-Cased Bullet – A bullet with a jacket of metal which completely encases

the nose.

Metal Point – It is bullet having metal tip and lead bearing.

Mid-Range – Refers to the distance between the long and short range.

Misfire – Refers to the total failure of the cartridge to explode.

Mushrooming – The expanding or upsetting of a bullet on impact.

Musket – Refers to an ancient smooth bore weapon intended to shoot a

number of lead pellets in one charge.

Muzzle Blast - Refers to the sound created at the muzzle end of the barrel.

Muzzle Velocity – Refers to the speed of the bullet at the muzzle itself.

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Nipple – Usually located on muzzle loading guns, it is a small metal cone at
the rear of the barrel through which the flame from the percussion cup passes
to ignite the powder charge.

Non-Jacketed Bullets – They are usually made of an alloy comprising of tin,

lead and antimony, which is slightly harder than pure lead.

Obturation – It is the process of sealing of the barrel by both the case

expansion and bullet action.

Ogive – A name used to denote the cylindrical head of the bullet.

Penetration – Part of exterior ballistics which deals with the impact or entry of
the bullet on the target

Percussion Cup – A tiny metallic cup containing fulminating material that

explodes upon the impact of the gun’s hammer.

Pin Fire – Are cartridges where the pin extends through the head of the
cartridge case into the primer.

Pistol – It is a firearm from which the shell of a fired shot is ejected and a fresh
cartridge pushed from the magazine into the breech by means of the gases
created by the preceding explosion.

Powder Charge - Refers to the amount of gunpowder used in the load.

Primer – A metallic cup charged with a priming composition. It is usually made

up of potassium chlorate, antimony sulfide and fulminate of mercury.

Priming Mixture - Refers to the chemical compound, which ignites the

propellant charges in a cartridge or shotgun shell.

Propellant – It is the fine particles which, when ignited by the primer flash, is
converted to gas under high pressure and propels the shot charge or bullet
through the barrel to the target.

Pump Gun – A common term designated to slide action repeating firearms.

Rebated Type – A cartridge case where the diameter of the rim is smaller than
the body of the cartridge case.

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Range – Refers to the straight distance between the muzzle of the gun and the
target.

Recoil – Refers to the backward motion of a gun in the act of discharging.

Revolver – A hand firearm having at the rear of the barrel a revolving cylinder
provided with a number of chambers, which, by the revolution of the cylinder
are brought successively into alignment with the barrel and the firing
mechanism for successive firing.

Ricochet – Refers to the tendency of a bullet to be deflected from its normal

path after striking a resistant surface.

Rifle – A type of small weapon designed to be fired from the shoulder.

Rifling – Refers to the number of cylindrical grooves which cuts the surface of
the bore.

Rim-Fire – A firearm which may be a rifle or pistol; discharges one shot with
each pull of the trigger. The cartridge is fired by a blow on the rim of the
cartridge-head.

Rim-Fire Cartridge – Refers to a cartridge case where the priming is placed in

the rim of the case.

Rimmed Type – Cartridges Cases where the diameter of the rim is greater
than the diameter of the body of the cartridge case.

Rimless Type – A cartridge case where the diameter is equal with diameter of
the body of the cartridge case.

Scorching – Caused by the flowing out of the hot powder gasses from the
muzzle which are projected against the target.

Semi-Automatic – A weapon requiring a separate pull of the trigger for each

shot fired and uses energy of discharge to perform firing cycle.

Single Action – A weapon which must be manually cocked due to the

pressure upon the trigger releases the hammer.

Single-Base – It is a powder containing nitrocellulose as the explosive

ingredient.
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Shear Marks - Another common striated action mark are shear marks
produced by most pistols on cartridge case primers. When a cartridge case is
forced backwards from recoil the primer imbeds itself in the firing pin hole. As
the slide of the pistol starts to recoil, the barrel will drop slightly as the action
opens. The dropping barrel forces the cartridge case to move down slightly
and when this happens the lower edge of the imbedded primer is sheared
downward and out of the firing pin hole.

Shock line Power – Refers to the force dispensed by the projectile on impact;
the result brought about through a combination of striking energy and
penetration.

Shot – Refers to the individual round lead balls, a number of which are
contained in the shotgun shell discharged at one time.

Shotgun – A smooth bore weapon designed to shoot a number of lead pellets

in one charge.

Shotgun Shell – Refers to a single unit of ammunition for shotguns. It consists

of a tubular case either of metal or paper with metallic base containing the
propellant, powder, shot and wads.

Slide Action Type – A firearm which features a movable forearm which is

manually actuated in motion parallel to the barrel of the shooter. Also referred
to as Pump Action.

Small Firearm – A general term used for firearms that propel projectiles less
than one inch in diameter.

Soft-Point Bullet – It is a metal cased bullet with a tip of lead, so that it will
mushroom on impact, increasing the striking load.

Squib Load – A defective load and exceptionally weak-sounding load.

Striations – Small grooves on the surface of the bullet due to tool marks or
other irregularities in the interior surface of the bore.

Tattooing – Refers to the area surrounding a gunshot wound which has been
marked by the products of combustion of the cartridge discharge.

Terminal Accuracy – Refers to the size of the bullet grouping on the target.

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Terminal Ballistics – Refers to the study of the consequences and effects of
the impact of the projectile on the target.

Terminal Energy – The force or poser of the bullet upon impact.

Terminal Penetration – Measures the depth traveled by the bullet inside the
target.

Terminal Velocity – The speed of the bullet upon hitting the target.

Test Bullet – Refers to bullets fired from suspected firearms in a bullet

recovery box to be used for comparison with the crime bullet or bullets
recovered in the crime scene or body of the victim.

Trajectory – Refers to the carved path or trail the projectile follows from the
moment it leaves the muzzle of a firearm until it strikes the target or the first
point of impact.

Trigger Pull – It is the amount of force necessary to release the trigger.

Twist – It is the rate or pitch of twist in the rifling of a pistol or rifle barrel.

Velocity – Measured in feet per second, it is the forward speed at which the
bullet travels.

Vent – Also known as flash hole refers to an opening in the bottom of the
primer pocket through which the primer flash imports ignition to the powder
charge.

Wad - Yielding substance, usually made of felt, placed over the powder of a
shot shell for the purpose of controlling the gas blast.

Windage – It is the allowance made for drift of a bullet.

Wobble – The unsteady and uneven spin or rotation of a bullet; usually caused
by insufficient twist in the rifle barrel.

Yaw – Refers to the wobbling of the bullet as it first leaves the barrel of a gun.

Zone of Contusion – It is a narrow spot immediately surrounding the wound of

entrance, where the projectile’s impact depressed and distends the tissues.

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Zip Guns – Are miscellaneous guns which are homemade or produced
manually on a small scale basis.

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QUESTIONED DOCUMENTS

Abbreviation – Stripping away or reducing essential parts.

Addition – Refers to any matter made a part of the document after its original
preparation.

Alignment – The relation on successive characters or letters of a word,

signature or line or writing to an actual or imaginary base line.

Alignment Defects – These type face defect include characters which write
improperly such as twisted letter, vertical mal alignment, horizontal mal
alignment, and a character “off its feet”. These defects can be corrected by
special adjustments to the type bar and type block.

Altered Document – One which contains some change either as an addition

or deletion.

Aniline Inks – Also known as Synthetic Dye Inks.

Arc - Refers to the rounded inner part of an upper bend, crook or curve.

Ball Point Pen – Refers to a writing instrument which has its marking tip made
up of a small freely rotating ball bearing which rolls the ink to the paper.

Baseline – Refers to the imaginary line upon which the writing rests.

Beard – A preliminary embellishment which usually occurs in capital letters.

Blue-Black Ink – The kind of ink which writes blue and darkens with age to a
black or metal gray. This ink contains a blue dye, but the permanent marking
substance are iron tannates and iron gallates which gradually darken after
exposure to air.

Blunt – This is a part of a stroke characterized by a sudden beginning or end

at which the pen does not create a diminishing stroke.

Buckle Knot – A loop made as a flourish which is added to a letter. A buckle

knot is a horizontal or loop stroke used to complete letters A, D, F and H.

Carbon Impression – Refers to any typewriting which is placed on the paper

by the action of the typefaces striking through the carbon paper.
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Carbon Inks – It consist of finely ground particles suspended in water.

Careless Scribble - It is usually executed for signing receipts and similar

insignificant documents.

Central Part - Refers to the body of a letter, usually characterized by circular

or small rounded strokes.

Characters – The term is used to include either letters, symbols, numerals or

points of punctuation.

Characteristics – Commonly known as identifying detail in document

examinations, it is any property or mark which is used to distinguish any
document form others, which may be classified as class or individual
characteristics.

Charred Document – Is one which has become blackened and delicate

through exposure to excessive heat or through actual burning.

Class Characteristics - Commonly referred to as a group which holds

common characteristics than other examined documents.

Clogged Type Face – A type face defect developed with continued usage of
the typewriter, the typefaces become filled with ink, dirt, and lint, particularly in
enclosed letters.

Collation – It is a critical comparison or side by side examination of two

documents.

Collected Standards - They refer to those which are written in the ordinary
course of business or in the regular course of man’s activity. They are
sometimes referred to as procured standards.

Comparison – Refers to the act of setting two or more items side by side to
weigh their identifying qualities.

Conclusion – Results from relating observed facts by logical, common sense

reasoning in accordance with established rules or laws.

Connection – It is a stroke which unites two successive strokes or letters. It

may be oval, arcade or angular in form.

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Copied Forgery – Also known as Simulated Forgery, it is regarded as the
most skillful form of forgery, it is a fake signature which resembles the genuine
signature executed in free-hand. Others refer to it as a freehand imitation
forgery.

Copy Book Form – Refers to the design of letters which are fundamental to a
writing system.

Copy Pencil – A writing instrument whose marking substance consists of a

mixture of graphite and an aniline dye.

Cross Mark – A signature used by persons who are unable to write, a cross
mark or crude X is deemed their valid signature. This authenticating mark is
still used by illiterates, and if properly witnessed, it can legally stand for a
signature.

Cursive Writing – Inscription in which the letters are for the most part joined
together.

Cursory Signature – Also known as informal signature it is usually executed in

the conduct of one’s own daily affairs. Primarily of routine nature.

Diacritic - It is an element added to complete a certain letter.

Decipherment – The process of making out what has been effaced or what is
illegible.

Defect – It describes any deviation or maladjustment in a typewriter which is

reflected in its work and results to its individualization or identification.

Disguised Writing – The result obtained when a writer may deliberately try to
modify or alter his writing habits in hopes of hiding his identity.

Disputed Document – It suggests that there is an argument or controversy

over the document.

Document – Any material which contains marks, symbols, or signs visible,

partially visible, or invisible to the naked eye that may ultimately or presently
convey a message or meaning.

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Document Examiner –Refers to one who studies scientifically the elements
and details of documents in order to identify their source or to discover other
facts concerning them is a document examiner.

Ductus Link – Or a Ductur broken is the connection between letters, either

joined or disconnected.

Efface - Means to scratch, rub out, erase or strike.

Embellishment – Also known as rubric, it is an additional, unnecessary stroke

not important to the legibility of letter forms and writing, its main purpose is for
ornamentation or to serve as a decoration.

Engrave Printing - Letterheads and other matters which are printed from a
metal plate containing an etched design. With this kind of work the ink is
slightly raised above the surface of the paper.

Elaboration - Decorative strokes are added to the plain letterforms, giving

writing rich and ample or too ornate character.

Erasure - Refers to the removal of printing, typewriting, or writing from a

document.

Examination - It is the process or act of making a critical and close study of

any material which includes among others; visual, microscopic, chemical,
photographic, ultraviolet and infrared test.

Expert Witness - A legal term to denote a person with special technical

training and experience permitted to express an opinion regarding a certain
aspect of the issue that is involved in a lawsuit. His role in court is to interpret
the technical information in order to assist the court in the administration of
justice.

Extensor Muscles – Is a group of muscles that pushes up the pen to form an

upward stroke.

Eyelet – Refers to small oblong strokes.

Flexor Muscle – Refers to a group of muscles which pushes the pen down
forming downward strokes.

Foot – The lower part of a letter which rests on the baseline.

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Forearm or muscular Movement – Writing is produced by movement of both
hand and arms and also fingers in some cases. The elbow is the pivot of lateral
movement.

Forearm movement - writing shows the utmost freedom and speed.

Forgery - Used synonymously with fraudulent signature or spurious document,

a legal term used in court which involves not only the questioned document but
also the intent on the part of its author or maker to delay.

Formal Signature – Also known as complete signature it is usually executed in

signing significant and important documents and papers.

Fountain Pen - A writing instrument which contains a reservoir of ink in a

specially designed chamber or sack.

Freehand Imitation - A fraudulent signature which was executed by mere

simulation.

Graphology - The art of trying to interpret the character or personality of an

individual from his handwriting.

Guided Signature - Also known as assisted signature, they are commonly

written during a serious illness or on a deathbed. It is a signature which is
executed while the maker’s or writer’s hand or arm is steadied in a way.

Habit - A writing habit is any repeated detail or element which may serve to
individualize writing.

Hand Lettering - Refers to any disconnected style of writing in which each

letter is written separately.

Hand Writing – A visible effect of bodily movement, which is an almost

unconscious expression of fixed muscular habits, reacting from fixed mental
impression of certain ideas associated with script form.

Handwriting Identification Expert - Another term used to denote a document

examiner.

Hiatus – Refers to a gap between a continuous stroke without lifting the writing
instrument or pen. It usually occurs due to speed and also known as pen jump.

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Hitch – The introductory backward stroke added to the start of many capital
letters and in which can also be seen occasionally in introductory strokes of
some small letters.

Holographic Document - A document which is completely written and signed

by one person.

Hook – Is a minute curve or angle which often occurs at the end of terminal
strokes. It also occurs at the end beginning of an initial stroke and the terminal
curves of letters “a”, “d” and “h”.

Horizontal Mal-Alignment - It is a typewriter defect in which the character

prints to the left or right of its proper position.

Hump – The rounded side of the top bend, curve, crook in small letters and
even in some capital letters.

Imitated – A term tantamount with freehand forgery.

Individual Characteristics - Refers to a highly peculiar or personal earmark.

Infrared Examination - This test employs invisible radiation beyond the red
portion of the visible spectrum which is usually recorded on a specially
sensitized photographic emulsion.

Ink - A viscous fluid marking material used for printing or writing.

Insertion - Means interlineations, it includes the addition of writing and other

material between lines or photographs or the addition of whole pages in a
document.

Knob - Refers to that tiny pool of ink at the beginning or ending stroke.

Linear Pattern - Writing shows no concern for form so that lines and angles
predominate, and loops and angles are not pronounced.

Line Quality - Refers to the visible record in the writing stroke of the basic
movements and manner of holding the writing instrument. Derived from a
combination of factors to wit; writing skill, rhythm, shading, freedom of
movement and pen emphasis.

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Lithographic Printing - Also called offset printing, it is printing from a smooth
surfaces plate, which has been so treated that the printing areas are ink
attracting and non-printing areas are ink repelling.

Lock through of Paper - The form and appearance of paper when viewed with
transmitted light.

Loop – An oblong curve found in small letters “h”, “g”, “f” and “l”. a blind loop is
frequently the result of the ink having filled the open space.

Lumbrical Muscles – Cluster of muscle which pushes the pen with

combination of extensor and flexor muscles forming the lateral strokes.

Microscopic Examination - Any study or test which is accomplished with the

microscope in order to discover minuscule or minute physical details.

Model Signature - It refers to a genuine signature which has been used to

prepare a traced or imitated forgery.

Movement - An element of writing which embraces all the factors which are
related to the motion of the writing instrument; skill, speed, hesitation, freedom,
rhythm, tremor and the like.

Natural Variations - Refers to the usual or normal deviations found between

repeated specimen of any individual’s handwriting or in the product of any
typewriter.

Natural Writing - Any specimen of writing executed normally without any

attempt to alter or control its identifying habits.

Non-Aqueous Ink - An ink in which a dye or pigment is carried in any medium

other than water.

Oblique Photography - Also called sidelight photography, it is undertaken in

questioned document examinations with the illumination so controlled that it
gazes or strikes the document from one side at a very small angle.

Obliteration - The smearing over or blotting out of the writing to make the
original undecipherable.

Off Its Feet - A typewriter defect in which the type face prints heavier on one
side or corner than over the remainder of its outline.
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Patching - Also termed as retouching, it is going over a defective segment of a

writing stroke.

Pen - A writing instrument used to apply ink on a paper.

Pencil Grade - It is the quantitative description of the softness or hardness of a

pencil and how dark a stroke is produced.

Pen Emphasis - Refers to periodic increase in pressure of the writing or the

act of intermittently forcing the pen against the paper surface with increased
pressure.

Pen Lift - It is an interruption in a stroke caused by removing the writing

instrument from the paper.

Pen Nibs - Two points or divisions which form the writing portion of the pen.

Pen Position – Refers to the relative location of the pen in relation to the paper
surface.

Pen Pressure - Refers to the average force with which the pen contacts the
paper.

Pen Scope – Represents the reach of the hand with the wrist at rest. It is the
average limit of the pen during the process of writing with the wrist at rest.

Permanent Defect - An identifying characteristic of a typewriter, which cannot

be corrected by cleaning the type face or replacing the ribbon.

Platen - It is the roll or tube which serves as the backing for the paper and
absorbs the blow from the type face.

Proportional Spacing Machine - A modern form of typewriting machine

which resembles printing in all of the letters, symbols and numerals that do not
occupy the same horizontal space as they do with conventional typewriters.

Qualification - Legal competency which is a combination of the education,

professional experience and the ability of a document examiner.

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Quality - Refers to a peculiar or distinct character utilized in depicting
handwriting to any identifying factor which is related to the writing movement
itself.

Questioned Document - Any document which is under scrutiny or about which

some issue has been raised.

Rebound - A typewriting defect in which the character prints a double

impression with the lighter side slightly offset to the left or right.

Reference Collection - Used to denote materials organized and compiled by a

questioned document examiner to assist him in special questions.

Requested Standards – Also known as “Post Litel Motam Standards” or

Dictated standard is a standard document which are executed and prepared at
one time upon request.

Restoration - Refers to the process in which erased writing is brought out

again or developed on the document itself.

Retracing - Also termed as retracting, it refers to any stroke which goes back
over another writing stroke.

Rhythm - The balanced quality of the writing movement which is marked by

intermittent or regular recurrence of harmonious stress of impulse.

Ribbon Impression - Refers to any typewriting which is made directly through

cloth imprint.

Sample - A representative or selected portion of the whole.

Secret Inks - Also known as sympathetic ink, it refers to a material used for
writing which is not visible until treated by some developing process or
substance.

Shading - It refers to the broadening or widening of ink strokes due to added

pressure on the paper surface.

Significant Writing Habits - Applied to any characteristics of handwriting

which is sufficiently well fixed and distinctive to serve as a fundamental point in
identification.

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Simple Forgery – It is also known as a spurious signature which refers to a
bogus signature where no attempt has been made to make a facsimile or copy
of the genuine writing or signature of a person purported to make or sign a
document.

Simplification - Discarding of unessential details and may go as far as to strip

the letter to the skeleton making it either clear-cut and precise, or bare and
careless.

Skill - Relative degree of the ability of the writer and a specimen of handwriting
usually containing evidence of a writer’s proficiency.

Slant - Refers to the inclination or angle of the axis of the letters relative to the
baseline.

Smeared Over Printing - It is an obliteration which is often accomplished by

covering or wiping over the original writing with an opaque substance.

Speed – May not be measured from the finished handwriting but may be
interpreted in broad terms as slow, moderate or rapid writing.

Spur – Refers to a short initial or terminal stroke.

Spurious Signature - A fraudulent signature in which there was no apparent

attempt at imitation or simulation.

Staff - Any long downward stroke of a letter. It is the backbone of any letter.
Also referred to as stem or shank.

Slant – Refers to the angle or inclination of the axis of letters relative to the
baseline.

Standards - Compact and condensed set of authentic specimens which, if

proper and sufficient should contain a true cross section of the material from a
known source.

Surface Texture of Paper - Describes the paper property which when viewed
under magnification is not absolutely smooth and flat but is rough and irregular.

Synthetic Dye Inks - Refers to any ink which consists of simply a dye
dissolved in water together with the necessary preservatives.

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System of Writing - The combination of the basic design of letters and the
writing movement as taught in school.

Traced Forgery - Refers to any deceitful or fraudulent signature which was

executed by actually following the outline of a genuine signature with a writing
instrument.

Transitory Defects - Any identifying typewriter characteristic which may be

eliminated by replacing the ribbon or cleaning the machine.

Transitory Change – Refers to alterations which only continue to exist while

the basic cause of the deterioration is still affecting the writer, once such cause
has been removed from the writer, his writing will revert to its normal form.

Transmitted Light Examination - A test in which the document is viewed with

the source of illumination behind it and the light passing through the paper.

Tremor - Refers to a writing weakness manifested by shaky and irregular

strokes. This may be due to genuine tremors caused by either sickness,
weakness, old age or illiteracy or a tremor of fraud.

Through – Any garland form of letter strokes.

Twisted Letter - Type face defect which leans to the left or right of their correct
slant due to wear and damage of the type block and the type bars.

Type Face - The printing surface of the type block.

Type Face Defect - Any oddity or peculiarity of typewriting caused by actual

damage to the type face metal.

Vertical Mal Alignment - A typewriter defect in which a character is printing

above or below its proper position.

Watermark - A translucent design which is impressed upon the paper during

manufacturing.

Whirl - The lone upward stroke usually located opposite the stem.

Writing - A combination of certain forms which are the very visible result of
mental and muscular habits

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Writing Conditions - Include both circumstance under which the writing was
prepared and the factors which influenced the writer’s ability to write at the time
of execution.

Writing Impressions - The small writing indentions completely devoid of any

pigment.

Writing Instrument – The utensil or means used to execute the writing such
as ball point pen, fiber pen or fountain pain.

Writing Movement – An important element of handwriting which embraces all

the factors which are related to the motion of writing.

Writing Offsets - Results from a paper coming in contact with fresh ink writing.

Writing Pressure – The average force with which the pen contacts the paper
surface or the usual force involved in writing.

Wrong Handed Writing - Any writing executed with the opposite hand, which
is a means of disguise.

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FORENSIC CHEMISTRY

3R Rule – A principle used for radial cracks which states that stress lines on
radial cracks will be at right angle to the rear side of the glass.

Absorption Elusion Technique – Is an indirect grouping technique of

bloodstains and it depends on the detection of agglutinogen in the direct blood.

Accidental Poisoning – Those in which the poison was taken without

intention to cause harm or death.

Acetic Acid – Acid found in vinegar known as glacial acetic acid in its pure
form.
Acetone – Used as solvent for cellulose acetate and nitro-cellulose it is a
colorless liquid with fruity odor.

Acute Poisoning – One in which there is prompt and marked disturbance of

function or death within a short time.

Agglutinogen – Also referred to as Antigen, these are characteristics chemical

structures or principles that are found on the surface of each red blood cell
which stimulates the production of agglutinins or antibodies.

Alluvial Soil – Formed from soil particles that were washed, blown or moved
by gravity to the lowlands.

Alkaloid – A nitrogenous organic basic compound with bitter taste containing

oxygen that occurs especially in seed plants.

Aniline Ink – Made of coal tar product called nigrosine dissolved in water

Animal Fiber – A fiber that made of protein. When subjected to a burning test
its fumes turn red litmus to blue, the fibers burn slowly and gives odor similar to
that of feather

Antagonist – Also known as physiological antidotes which refers to an agent

that acts upon the system so as to counteract the effect of the poison and
masks the symptoms produced.

Antibody or Agglutinin – These are proteins or principles contained in the

serum, which caused agglutination or clumping together of the red blood cells.

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Antidote - Refers to any agent, which neutralizes poison and its effect.

Arsenic – A rat poison.

Artificial Silk - Cylindrical, lustrous, appearing like a glass rod.

Aspermia - A condition wherein males have no spermatozoa at all in their

seminal fluid

Asthenics - Also known as Exhaustive are agents that produce exhaustion,

marked loss of vital or muscular power, such as hydrocyanic acid, digitalis and
aconite.

Atropine – Obtained from the plant group Solonaceae; known as Deadly

nightshade.

Auto Agglutination – Defined as the agglutination of individual red cells by

their own serum due to the presence of an absorbable agglutinin in the serum
and a corresponding agglutinogen in the cell.

Auxiliary Hair – Is fairly long with unevenly distributed pigment.

Ball Point Pen Ink – Made of lights fast dyes soluble as carbitol, glycol or oleic
acid.

Barberio’s Test – The test is almost specific for human semen and seminal
stain as old as six years old are said to respond to this test.

Barbiturates – A sleeping pill; induces sleep: a derivative of malonyl urea or

barbituric acid.

Benzene – Also known as benzol, it acts as a solvent for rubber, gums, fats
and resins.

Benzidine Test – Reliable and easy way to test blood even when it is
decomposed and stained with contamination.

Black powder – Consists of an intimate mixture of charcoal or carbon, sulfur

and potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate.

Blood - Referred to as the circulating tissue of the body, which is made up of

formed elements suspended in plasma.
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Bufotoxin – Poisonous substance isolated from skin of poisonous frogs.

Burning Test – Also referred to as Ignition Test it is an examination that

determines whether fiber is mineral, animal or vegetable.

Bursting Strength Test – Is an examination used to determine whether a

paper is not easily torn.

Cannabinoids – Active chemical found in marijuana and hashish.

Cantharide – An aphrodisiac (Provocative of or exciting sexual desire)

Carbolic Acid – Also known as Phenol, it is obtained from coal tar.

Carbon Disulfide – A solvent for sulfur burns with bluish flame giving carbon
dioxide and sulfur dioxide.

Carbon Ink - Kind of ink is wherein the use of chemical bleaches is ineffective,
it is the oldest ink material known to man. Also known as India ink or Chinese
ink.

Carbon Monoxide – A tasteless, colorless and odorless gas produced by

incomplete combustion of carbon, it is toxic to humans.

Cast Coin – Coins made in molds or coins made in casting method.

Casting Material – Any substance which can be changed from a liquid or

plastic state to solid condition.

Cathartics - Are agents which produce intestinal evacuation.

Celerit – Brown colored material used for strengthening and backing the
homonit.

Chemical Antidote – A substance that makes the poison harmless by

chemically altering it, and renders the poison insoluble and inert.

Chemical Test – Involves the treatment of the suspected sample with a

chemical reagent and reaction such as color change is noted.

Chloral Hydrate – Used as knockout drops.

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Chloroform – A colorless liquid with a sweet taste and suffocating odor; an
anesthesia.

Chromatographic Test – Is the method by which the components of a

compound are separated from one another by passage thru a supporting
medium and is used to identify complex organic material.

Chronic Poisoning – Kind of poisoning in which there is gradual deterioration

of function of tissues which may or may not result in death.

Clay Mineral – A product of decomposition of primary minerals found in nearly

all soil and is the major constituent of most heavy soil.

Colluvial Soil – Formed from decomposition of igneous, metamorphic and

sedimentary rocks, the decomposed particles moved by gravity.

Combined – The effect of the poison is not only localized on the site but also
affects remote organs.

Confirmatory Test – Stage of blood examination wherein the actual proof that
subject is definitely blood.

Corrosive – Highly irritant poison which causes local destruction of tissues and
causes nausea.

Cortex – The intermediate and the thickest layer of the shaft and is composed
of elongated, spindle-shaped fibrils which cohere. It is the race determinant of
the human hair.

Cotton - A fiber, which burns rapidly, the fumes turned blue litmus to red. It is a
unicellular filament, flat, ribbon like and tapers gradually to a blunt or rounded
point at one end.

Crystalline Test - Involves the treatment of a suspected sample of a chemical

that causes the crystals of the questioned substance to precipitate.

Cultivated Silk - Smooth, cylindrical, lustrous threads, usually single but often
double, the twin filament held together by an envelope of gum.

Cuticle - Outermost covering of the hair.

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Demulcents - Soothes and protects the part to which they are applied in
mechanical antidotes.

Density Gradient Apparatus – Is a simple apparatus utilizing simple

procedure in determining the identity or non-identity of soil samples based on
the density distribution.

Density Gradient Test – Is the best method in comparative soil analysis.

Depressants – Similar to sedatives it refers to agents that retard or depress

the physiological action of an organ.

Dermal Nitrate Test – A test to determine whether a person fired a gun or not
with his bare hands.

Detonation – A violent explosion, resulting from instantaneous and direct

decomposition or combustion of unstable compounds such as TNT or mercury
fulminate.

Diphenylamine Test -Also known as DPA TEST it determines the presence

and distribution of nitrates.

Dose - Refers to the quantity of poison administered at one time.

Drug – Is a substance that has an effect upon the body or mind.

Dust – Matter, which is, dry and finely divided form.

Egyptian Papyrus – One of the earliest substances used for writing.

Emetics – Substance or agent, which produces vomiting.

Erasure – A chemical or mechanical means of removal of writing from the

paper.

Ergot – It is a fungus poison developed on rye plants and other cereal grains.

Erythrocytes – Referred to as the red blood cells.

Etching Fluid – Is a fluid used to restore tampered serial numbers.

Ether – Highly volatile and inflammable liquid used as general anesthesia.

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Ethyl Alcohol – Also known as Ethanol it is an alcohol found in wine also
called grain alcohol.

Expert Witness – One who possess a skill, be it in art, trade or science or one
who has special knowledge in matters not generally known to men of ordinary
education or experience.

Explosion – Refers to a rapid combustion, decomposition of gases, and

consequent violent increase of pressure, usually creating a loud noise.

Explosives – Is any substance that may cause an explosion by its sudden

decomposition or combustion.

Florence Test – A test used to detect the presence of semen particularly in

stained clothing.

Forensic Chemistry – Is the application of chemical principles in the solution

of problems that arise in the administration of justice.

Formalin – An embalming liquid fluid.

Formic Acid – Is a toxic substance found in ants and spiders.

Fuzz Hair – A kind of hair generally short, fine, at times curly and wooly.

Gallotanic Ink - The type of ink where age maybe determined. This ink can
penetrate into the interstices of the fiber and not merely on the surface, thus
making is removal more difficult to accomplish. Also known as Iron Nutgall Ink.

Genes – Is any of the complexes chemical units in the chromosomes by which

hereditary characters are transmitted.

Genotypes – Refers to pair genes.

Glass – A super cooled liquid that possess high viscosity and rigidity.

Grime – Produced by mixing dust with the sweat or grease of the human body.

Guaiacum Test – A fairly delicate test showing the presence of fresh blood in
a solution.

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Hair – Referred to as appendage of the skin which occurs everywhere on the
human body except on the palms and soles of the feet.

Hemoglobin – Refers to the oxygen carrier of the blood.

Heroine – A light brown powder; derivatives of morphine; also called diacetyl

morphine.

High Explosive – Unstable material which detonates or explodes under the

influence of the shock of the explosion of a primary explosive.

Homonit – Refers to a resinous material used for making positives from

negocoll negatives.

Hydrogen Cyanide – A poison found in “kamoteng-kahoy” also could

Hydrocyannic Acid or Prussic Acid.

Hydrogen Sulfide – A gas with a rotten egg odor usually made by decaying
body.

Idiosyncrasy – A term applied to individuals who exhibit unusual reaction to a

certain substance.

Illegible Writings – Unnecessary writings that are not capable of being read
usually made on checks, birth certificate, passport, and transcript of records.

Indented Writings - Term applied to the partially visible depression appearing

on a sheet of paper underneath that one that the visible writing appears.

Industrial Dust – Industries like cement, button, powdered gypsum and plaster
of Paris factories, flour milling, paint pigments, involves industrial processes
like grinding, milling or beating for the purpose of producing finely powdered
ultimate products which in the process impart a pronounced local character to
the dust on the neighboring roads and buildings.

Irritants – Those poison or toxic substances which produce irritation or

inflammation of the membrane, characterized by vomiting, pain in the abdomen
and purging.

Lethal Dose – Quantity of poison that kills the victim or affected person.

Leucocytes – Referred to as the white blood cells.

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Limb Hair – Is a hair similar to trunk hairs but usually is not solving or so
course and usually contain less pigment.

Linen – Is a multi-cellular filament, straight and cylindrical, not twisted and

flattened, tampering to a sharp point.

Loading Material – Substance added to paper to give weight.

Local – An action of the poison in which the disturbance or changes is

produced on the part which the poison comes in contact.

Logwood Ink - It is a cheap ink which does not corrode steel pens and made
up of saturated solution of logwood, potassium dichromate, hydrochloric acid
and phenol as preservative.

Luminol Test - An important presumptive identification test for blood.

Lysol – A disinfectant; a brown liquid from cresol and soap emulsion.

Mammalian Red Blood Cells – It is a circular, biconcave disc without nucleus

common to birds, fish and reptiles; where the red blood cells are larger, oval
and nucleated.

Marijuana Leaves – It has palmate structure, leaflet has serrated edges, upper
layer has short hair called cystolith hair swollen at the base with Calcium
Carbonate, and it is shiny due to resin, under surface and has long slender
hair.

Marijuana Plant – Grows from 3 feet to 16 feet tall, has 4 inches to 20 inches
interval of nodes where branches arise, leaflets grows up to 6 inches bony, 1 ½
inches wide and above each leaf grows a branch which produces its own
leaves and flowering tops.

Maximum Dose – It is the largest amount that will cause no harm but at the
same time produce the desired therapeutic effect.

Mechanical Antidote – An agent that removes the poison without changing it

or coats the surface of the organ so that absorption is prevented.

Medulla – It is the central canal of the hair.

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Mellanin – A brownish-black pigment in the hair, skin, etc. It is the chemical
responsible for the color of the hair.

Mercenized Cotton – Is a straight, cylindrical with occasional twist; unevenly

lustrous, smooth except for occasional transverse fold or wrinkle; cuticle mostly
lacking.

Methamphetamine Hydrochloride – A white crystalline powder, a drug having

such chemical composition including any of its isomers or derivatives in any
form and in commonly known “shabu”.

Methyl Alcohol - Also known as Methanol it causes blindness; a solvent for

varnish; an anti-freeze in automobiles; also called wood alcohol.

Methylene-Dioxy-methamphetamine(MDMA) – Commonly known as

“ECSTACY”, it refers to the drug having such chemical composition including
any of its isomers or derivatives in any form.

Metallography – Branch of metallurgy that involves the study of the

microstructures of alloys and metals.

Metallurgy – Is the art of extracting and working on metals by application of

chemical and physical knowledge.

Microscope – An optical instrument used to magnify images of tiny objects.

Minimum Dose – The smallest amount of measured quantity of any substance

which produces therapeutic effect without causing any harm.

Molotov Cocktail – Fire bombs or incendiary devices composed of acids

mixed with gasoline.

Morphine – Found in poppy plant; an alkaloid present in opium; a white

crystal.

Moulage – The process taken in the reproduction of physical evidence by

plaster moulds. The faithful reproduction of an impression with the use of
casting materials.

Narcotics – Toxic substances that produces stupors and lessen feeling.

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Negocoll – Refers to a rubbery gelatinous materials consisting essentially
colloidal magnesium salts.

Neurotics – Any substance which act chiefly on the nervous system producing
delirium, convulsion and coma with disordered circulation and respiration as
the outstanding symptoms.

Nitrobenzene – A pale yellow, oily liquid with sweet odor, which resembles the
oil of bitter almond.

Nitroglycerine – A mixed nitric acid, sulfuric acid and glycerin it is the most
widely used commercial explosive.

Non-Volatile Poisons – Refers to those that are isolated by extraction of

organic solvent.

Obliterated Writing – The obscuring of writing by super imposing ink, pencil or

other marking material.

Oligospermia – Condition whereby males have abnormally low sperm counts

or with few spermatozoa.

Opacity – The quality of paper that does not allow light to pass through or
which prevents dark objects from being seen through the paper.

Opium – Refers to the coagulated juice of the opium poppy, it embraces every
kind, class and character of opium; whether crude or prepared.

Opium Poppy – Refers to any part of the plant of the species Papaver
Somniferum L., Papaver Setigerum DC, Papaver Orientale, Papaver
Bracteatum and Papaver Rhoeas, which include the seeds, straws branches,
leaves or any part thereof.

Paper Chromatography – The best way to determine and identify the type of
ink used in a ballpoint pen.

Paraffin Test – Is the taking of the cast of the left and right hand to extract the
nitrates embedded or implanted in the skin.

Petrography – A branch of geology that deals with the systematic

classification and identification of rocks, rock forming mineral and soil.

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Phenotypes – A term used to denote the expression of the inherited
characteristics as found in the individual.

Picrotoxin – Locally known as “lagtang” this poison is derived from fish.

Plasma – Composed of ninety percent water it is stray yellow colored liquid it

compromises about sixty-five percent of the blood.

Poison – Any substance which when introduced into the body, absorbed
through the blood stream; acting chemically is capable of producing noxious
effect or destroy life.

Polish Marks – Stain of optical glass and other fine glassware which occurs
during its manufacture.

Posology – A branch of science, which treats of the form and quantity of

medicine to be administered within a certain period.

Precipitants – Prevents absorption of the poison by precipitating them and

making them insoluble.

Precipitin Test – A test used to conclude whether blood is of human origin or

not.

Primary Explosives – Commonly known as initiators, they explode or

detonate when subjected to shock or heated.

Propellants – Also known as low explosives it refers to combustible materials

containing within themselves all oxygen needed for their combustion that burns
but do not explode and functions by producing gas that produces explosion.

Ptomaine – An organic bacterial poison, found in dead or decaying body.

Pubic Hair – It is similar to auxiliary hairs but are courser and do not appear
bleached. Wirier, have more constriction, twists and usually have continuous
broad medulla.

Quinine – Alkaloids of cinchona bark white microcrystalline powder, which is

colorless, with a bitter taste.

RDX - Considered as one of the most important military explosive used in

contemporary times.
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RFC Rule – A principle used for concentric cracks, it states that stress lines on
a concentric crack will be at right angle to the front side, that is the side from
which the impact or blow came.

Remote - It is the change or disturbance produced in distant part from the site
of application of toxin.

Root - That portion embedded on the skin. It is classified as either living roots
or those found on hair in full growth and dry roots or those referred to as dead
roots.

Safe Dose – One that does not cause harmful effect.

Salicylic Acid – An acid that found in “ap-ap” solution.

Scalp Hair – They are more mature than any other kind of human hair.

Scopolamine – A truth serum.

Secretors – Refers to males who are capable of producing four hundred to five
hundred million spermatozoa per ejaculation.

Sedentary Soil – An inactive loam or dirt.

Semen - A viscid gelatinous, whitish fluid of the male reproductive tract

consisting of spermatozoa suspended in secretion of accessory glands.

Seminal Fluid – It consists of water, salt and carbohydrates.

Serology – Deals with the study and identification of body fluids.

Serum – A straw yellow liquid formed when clotted blood is allowed to stand
for some time and the clot contracts.

Shaft - It is the most distinctive part of the hair. It consist of the cuticle or the
outermost covering of the hair; the cortex which is the thickest layer of the
shaft; and the medulla or core which is the central canal of the hair.

Spectrographic Test – An examination conducted to determine the element of

a glass.

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Sizing Material – A substance which is used to improve the quality of the
paper.

Spectrophotometric Test – The spectrophotometer reveals the ultra violet

and infrared color spectra peculiar to certain organic substances like
barbiturates, strychnine, morphine and codeine.

Spectroscopic Examination – Most delicate and reliable test for determining

presence of blood in both recent and old stains.

Spermatozoa – A small object with a pear shaped head, behind which is a

short neck and a tail of about ten times as long as the head.

Spermine Picrate – It is the positive result in the preliminary examination for

semen in Barberio’s Test.

Struck Coins – Made by striking or stamping method or these are coins made
by means of dyes.

Strychnine – An alkaloid found in dried ripe seeds of nux vomica.

Takayama Test – A test used to determine positively the presence of blood in

stained material.

Tetanics – Substance which acts directly upon the spinal cord producing such
spasmodic and contraction of muscles as results of stiffness or immobility of
the parts to which they are attached.

Tip – Refers to the distal end of the uncut hair shaft.

Toxicology – Is that branch of science, which treats of poisons, their origin,

physical properties, chemical properties, physiological action, treatment of their
noxious effect, and methods of detection.

Toxic Dose – One that is harmful to both healthy and sick.

Trunk Hair – Vary in thickness along the shaft which are immature but are
somewhat similar to head hairs.

Watermarks – It is a distinctive mark or design placed in the paper at the time

of its manufacture by a roll usually a dandy roll.

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Wire marks – Marks produced on paper by the flexible wire soldered to the
surface of the dandy rolls that carries the watermark.

X-ray Diffraction Test – This examination is used to determine the type of

glass pattern.

Yarn – Made of fibers, which have been twisted together, like thread.

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