Forensic Pathology

Forensic Pathology

-focuses on determining cause of death for persons who died unexpectedly, suddenly, or unnaturally

Autopsy external examination

-inspection of external surface (no cutting)

-weight and measurements

-signs of decomposition

-associated objects

-note: injuries, scars, tattoos

Autopsy - Opening of trunk

-Y-incision

-sternal plate removed

Autopsy - Examination of Internal Organs

-organs removed, examined, weighed and dissected

Also during internal examination

-sections of diseased or injured tissues preserved for further study

-specimines for toxicology testing (urine, blood, bile)

-DNA analysis (blood, pulled head hairs, non preserved tissue)

Removal of the brain

-cut made ear to ear along the back of the head

-skin folded over and a stryker saw is used to cut through the cranial vault

End of autopsy

-return organs (unless preserved/tested)

-sow skin back in place

-wash

Types of wounds

-tangential

-blunt

-laceration

-sharp

Blunt force injury - bruise

-contusions, ecchymoses

-blood escaped from damaged vessels

-many factors affect degree of bruising

factors affecting bruising

-force

-medical condition

-boney areas bruise easier

-fat content, females usually have more, more fat bruises easier

lacerations (blunt force injury)

-sufficient force to overstretch the skin to the point of tearing

-most common in skin directly over bone

-jagged edges

-bridges

incised wound (sharp force trauma)

-clean edges

-no bridges

-longer than deep

-lack of bruising

stab wounds (sharp force trauma)

-puncture wounds

-deeper than wide

-some bruising

aging wounds

-injuries days before death show signs of healing

-very hard to distinguish wounds created just before, during, and just after death (all show signs of the inflammatory response - vital response)

Asphyxia

-cells don’t receive oxygen

-cells don’t receive oxygen but can’t use it

-cells are unable to eliminate carbon dioxide

-cyanosis (discoloration)

-petechiae (red dots)

hanging

-ligature furrow elevates to the back and sides of the neck, behind the ears

strangulation

-ligature furrow lower, horizontal, completely encircles the neck, back of the neck has traums

Pugilistic Attitude

-way body is formed after its been through fire

-hands are up fr4om rapid dehydration

death before or after fire?

-soot in LUNGS (not just airways), in lungs if alive in fire

-saturation level of carboxyhemoglobin >10%, CO2 in fire has greater affinity, blood gets very acidic

-normal tissue response immediate inflammation (grated response)

Exit vs Entrance gunshot wounds

-exit wounds are a lot larger, more messy

Contact range gunshot

-muzzle imprint

-narrow ring of soot on skin

-ballooning/laceration of surrounding skin (typically “crisscross” shaped)

intermediate range gunshot

-wider zone of powder stippling

-lack laceration

-lack of muzzle imprint

Distant range gunshot

-lack stippling

-hole size = caliber size