agonal and postmortem changes

what is death

a process. Series of Physical and Chemical changes starting before time of death and continuing afterward – There is a point of irreversibility where nothing can be done to restore life

necrobiosis

refers to the physiologic, or natural death of cells as they complete their life cycles

necrosis

refers to the pathologic death of body cells as a result of disease processes. (gangrene or decubitus ulcers

agonal period

Period before somatic death; Sequence of steps leading up to a person drawing their last breath

agonal algor

cooling or decreasing of the body temperature prior to death

elderly, slow death

agonal fever

an increase of the body temperature just prior to death.

infections, toxemia, poisoning

agonal hypostasis: circulatory changes

settling of blood into dependent tissues of the body

result of slowing circulation before death

agonal coagulation: circulatory changes

occurs as the circulation of blood slows

formed elements of the blood begin to clot and congeal

agonal capillary expansion: circulatory changes

the opening of the pores in the walls of the capillaries

occurs because of failing circulation

agonal edema

an increase in the amount of moisture, or fluids, in the tissues and the body cavities

result from disease process or agonal capillary expansion

agonal dehydration

a decrease in the amount of moisture, or fluids, in the tissues and body cavities

from disease or post agonal capillary expansion

translocation of microorganisms

the movement of microorganisms from one area of the body to another.

Occurs as organisms normally confined to a specific area of the body by natural body defenses can move as the body loses its ability to keep them in check

antemortem subcutaneous emphysema

A distention of the body tissues by the presence of gas or air beneath the skin; an antemortem condition – may be able to puncture to relieve

gas gangrene

necrosis in a wound infected by an anaerobic gas-forming bacillus-foul smelling

chemotherapeutic agents

Cellular changes occur when they are used and no matter which drug is used – can affect Embalming

blood thinners

Anticoagulant - Keeping the blood thin will increase postmortem hypostasis of the blood and intense liver mortis

antibiotics

Long term usage can cause liver damage an kidney failure. – Tissues may become saturated with ammonia and nitrogen waste – May need higher index of embalming fluid to compensate for waste products that neutralize formaldehyde

vasodilators

Distribution of arterial fluid may be affected when there has been vasoconstriction occurred usually by cerebrovascular accident or a stroke

algor mortis-physical change

Postmortem cooling of the body to the ambient (surrounding environment)

temperature

hypostasis- physical changes

Process of blood and/or other fluids settling to the dependent portions of the body that can occur in the antemortem, agonal, or postmortem period

contact pallor

area where blood movement has been inhibited – restricted

postmortem edema

overaccumulation of tissue fluid

imbibition

swelling and softening of tissues and organs as a result of absorbing moisture from adjacent sources

liver mortis-physical changes

intravascular red-blue discoloration resulting from postmortem hypostasis of blood. Can be reduced or removed during embalming

dehydration- physical changes

Loss of moisture from body tissue, which may occur antemortem or postmortem; the

removal of water from a substance

increase in blood viscosity- physical changes

refers to the thickness of a liquid or its resistance to flow

four components of blood

plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets

liquid portion is the plasma; a mixture of water, sugar, fat, protein, and salts

agglutination

The process in which free red blood cells are bound together

post mortem caloricity- chemical changes

Rise in body temperature after death due to continued cellular metabolism

anabolism

the building phase

catabolism

the breakdown phase that releases heat and energy

postmortem stain

Extravascular discoloration that occurs when heme seeps through the vessel walls and into the body tissue

hemolysis

destruction of red blood cells that releases heme – rupture or destruction of red blood cells

when does hemolysis begin?

approx. 6-10 hrs after death. leads s to extravascular discoloration – postmortem stain

how is ph measured?

Increasing acidity is expressed as a number less than 7and increasing alkalinity as a number greater than 7

what happens to blood ph after death?

pH drops and tissue fluids moves into the acid range (approximately 3 hours after death

what happens to lactic acid after death?

The oxygen present in life prevents the buildup- after death the oxygen is gradually used up – and iss no longer inhibited and begins to accumulate in the muscle tissues – buildup approx. first 3 hour

primary flaccidity

Muscles relaxed at death.

secondary flaccidity

after 36-72 hours, rigor mortis passes in unembalmed body. greater demand for preservative because protein has been broken down

decomposition

Separation of compounds into simpler substances by the action of microbial and/or autolytic enzymes