Which term refers to the three-dimensional location of blood source?

The term that refers to the three-dimensional location of a blood source is indeed the area of origin. This concept is crucial in forensic science, particularly in bloodstain pattern analysis, as it helps investigators determine not only where the blood originated but also the height and angle from which it was projected.

When blood is projected onto a surface, it can create patterns that can be analyzed to infer the dynamics of a violent event. The area of origin is determined by taking the angles and distances of the blood droplets and triangulating their locations in three-dimensional space. This analysis can reveal valuable information about the position of the victim and perpetrator at the time of bloodshed, which is essential in reconstructing a crime scene.

In contrast, the area of convergence refers to the two-dimensional point on a plane where the lines of blood droplets intersect, providing a focused point of where the blood may have originated but lacking the height and angle details that the area of origin provides. Cast-off patterns describe how blood is flung from an object, often indicating movement, while blood spatter refers to the general phenomenon of blood droplets and does not specify their origin or three-dimensional characteristics.