Are you in the Right Flight??

Dexter- Has got his Blood Splatter Analysis done! What About You??…. Yes Guys! This is where blood takes flight and we as forensic scientist need to know the Direction of Flight- i.e The trajectory of a blood drop which can be established by its angle of impact and directionality angle.

Now you need to know the basics in Direction in Blood Splatter. Here are few terminologies:

Draw-Back Effect – Blood in the barrel of a firearm that has been drawn backward into the muzzle.

Drip Pattern — A bloodstain pattern which results from blood dripping into blood.

Expirated Blood – Blood that is blown out of the nose, mouth, or a wound as a result of air pressure and/or air flow which is the propelling force.

Flight Path – The path of the blood drop, as it moves through space, from the impact site to the target.

Flow Pattern – A change in the shape and direction of a bloodstain due to the influence of gravity or movement of the object.

Forward Spatter – Blood which travels in the same direction as the source of energy or force which caused the spatter.

High Velocity Impact Spatter (HVIS) — A bloodstain pattern caused by a high velocity impact /force to a blood source such as that produced by gunshot or high speed machinery.

Impact Pattern – Bloodstain pattern created when blood receives a blow or force resulting in the random dispersion of smaller drips of blood.

Impact Site — That point where force encounters a source of blood.

Low Velocity Impact Spatter (LVIS) – A bloodstain pattern that is caused by a low velocity impact/force to a blood source.

Medium Velocity Impact Spatter (MVIS) – A bloodstain pattern caused by a medium velocity impact/force to a blood source. A beating typically causes this type of spatter.

Passive Drop (Bleeding) – Bloodstain drop(s) created or formed by the force of gravity acting along.

Point (Area) of Convergence – The common point (area), on a two dimensional surface, over which the directionality of several blood drops can be retraced.

Point (Area) of Origin — The common point (area) in a three dimensional space to which the trajectories of several blood drops can be retraced.

Projected Blood Pattern — A bloodstain pattern that is produced by blood released under pressure as opposed to an impact, such as arterial spurting

Angle of Impact: The steeper the impact, the more elliptical or elongated, the blood drop

For a complete list of bloodstain pattern terms, as recommended by the International Association of
Blood Stain Pattern Analysts. (IABPA), go to: http://www.iabpa.org/
These terms should serve as a guide, for those who work and teach in the field of Blood Stain Pattern Analysis