1.2.3 Forensic Toxicology

Forensic Toxicology

PBS 1.2.3

Looking for a Needle in a Haystack

What evidence is there that Anna may have ingested or encountered a harmful substance?

What is Toxicology?

Toxicology is a field of science that studies the effects of toxins and toxicants on the human body. Toxin v. Toxicant Answer the reflection question: What are some reasons for completing toxicology tests on samples from living people?

manufactured chemicals that produce adverse effects

naturally occuring poison made by living organisms

Digesting the Digestive System

Toxicology can be performed on many body samples such as stomach contents, blood, urine, and hair. This allows us to test for the presence of metabolites of different toxins/toxicants. In order to understand how this works, we need a general understanding of the digestive system. What is the function of the digestive system? What does your body do with nutrients/molecules that it extracts from your food? The process of breaking down substances and converting them to new substances is called _________________________.

break down food into nutrient molecules, absorb nutrients, excrete waste

builds new molecules

metabolism

Your Turn!

Go to 1.2.3 > Digesting the Digestive System > open the Digestive System Model > take notes on the functions of each of the major digestive organs.

With a Partner!

Imagine you have swallowed a piece of food. List the structures it travels through and describe the processes that take place as the food moves through them.

To the Lab!

The medical examiner noticed a partially digested pill in Anna’s stomach. Her stomach acid has worn away the coating/identifying markers on the pills, so you must figure out what the pill is.