Forensic Pathology

what is is the first stage of death?

Stoppage (the heart stops and the nerves, muscles, and organs stop)

what is the second stage of death?

Cell autolysis- the cell membrane dissolves and everything starts to spill out

Common roles of a forensic pathologist

Confirmation of death, estimation of TOD, ensure positive identification of victim, record and analyze injuries and natural disease if any, determine cause of death, and form an educated opinion of possible manners of death through reconstruction of death

1st broad determination a forensic pathologist can make about a victim

Manner of death

2nd broad determination a forensic pathologist can make about a victim

Cause of death

3rd broad determination a forensic pathologist can make about a victim

Mechanism of death

4th broad determination a forensic pathologist can make about a victim

Time of death

A coroner is an

elected official, serves as chief death investigator for a 4 year period, signs death certificate

What type of opinion does a coroner use?

Subjective opinion

A medical examiner

A medical doctor, appointed as chief death investigator, board certified forensic pathologist

What type of opinion does a medical examiner give?

Objective opinion

1st factor to determine time of death?

body temperature (algor mortis)

2nd factor to determine time of death?

insect action

3rd factor to determine time of death?

stomach contents

4th factor to determine time of death?

last known activity

5th factor to determine time of death?

Normal postmortem changes (rigor mortis, livor mortis, dessication- drying of the body, putrefaction- rotting/bloating, butyric fermentation

What are the 5 manners of death?

Natural, homicide, suicide, accident, undetermined

What are the 4 causes of death?

Mechanical, electrical, chemical, burns or extreme cold

What is the mechanism of death?

Change in the body that results in the heart stopping

What is a blunt force injury?

Physical impact is made to the body and produces laceration (splitting of the skin)

What is a sharp force injury?

wounds with clean edges, knives/glass and produces incisions

Laceration

tearing impact from a blunt object

Incised

cut from knife

Puncture

something sharp penetrates the body but not a knife

Abrasion

scrape (friction too)

Contusion

Bruise

Avulsion

chunk of skin removed/explosion

Black stippling=

6 inches to 3.5 feet away

Contact shot causes what

blackening and swelling at entry wound

No evidence of burning or residue from gun

3.5 feet or further away

Antemortem

before death

Perimortem

during death

postmortem

after death

What is rigor mortis?

Stiffening of the body. Lactic acid and calcium build up due to lack of oxygen

Is rigor mortis permanent or temporary?

Temporary

0-2 hours rigor

No rigor

3-11 hours rigor

rigor begins in the head and down the body

12 hours rigor

Peak rigor has set in

13-18 hours rigor

Rigor begins to disappear in the face, neck, and upper body

19-35 hours rigor

Rigor begins to disappear in the torso and lower body

36-48 hours rigor

Rigor is gone

What is livor mortis?

Pooling of the blood. Hemoglobin spills into the body due to red blood cells going through autolysis and turning purple

is livor mortis permanent or temporary?

Permanent

What is algor mortis?

Temperature of death

Dead for less than 2 hours with algor mortis

warm and not stiff

Dead between 3 and 8 hours with algor mortis

cool/cold body and algor starts with face then center of the body then arms

Dead between 8 and 36 hours with algor +rigor mortis

cold body and entirely stiff or getting less stiff so only rigor in bigger muscles not the neck or head

Dead for more than 36 hours with algor mortis

cold and stiffness is completely gone

0-2 hours after meal

Undigested food

4-6 hours after meal

Stomach empty but food in small intestines

12-more hours after meal

small intestines empty but waste is found in large intestines

Open eyes

appear cloudy 2-3 hours after death

Closed eyes

eyes appear cloudy after 24 hours