Forensic Pathology- 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐨

𝐌𝐫. 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 ***𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐁𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐏*** `✦ ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹

Mechanism of Death

Biological and Psychological abnormality produced by the cause of death that is incompatible with life

ex: Death due to Gunshot Wound

Manner of Death

The classification of a death

ex: Suicide, homicide, accident

Cause of Death

Disease or injury that initiated the lethal chain of events that lead to death

ex: Heart disease, clogged arteries, etc

LIVER MORTIS- definition

The process in which the body decomposes and blood seeps into down and settles in lower parts of the body.

LIVER MORTIS can

1) Determine time of death

2) Reveal the position of the corpse within the first 8 hours

3) Reveal if the body was moved

LM- 1) Determine Time of Death

* Within 2-8 hours, the blood has not settled and will disappear when pressed, will solidify after 8 hours

* Temperature and anything that can impede blood flow will affect the color of Lividity

LM- 2) Reveal the position of the corpse within the first 8 hours

If the victim is on their back, the blood will pool along backside

LM- 3) Reveal if the Body was Moved

If the body was moved, there will be dual lividity from first position and second position

LIVIDITY

Blood pooling or settling in tissue after death

liver mortis= bodily action

Lividity= end result

LIVIDITY- Blueish pink/purple

Died of natural/external causes

LIVIDITY- Bright Cherry Red

Carbon Monoxide

LIVIDITY- Pink

Cyanide

LIVIDITY- Dark Brown

Phosphorous

LIVIDITY- Reddish Brown

Nitrates

LIVIDITY- Chocolate Brown

Chlorates

LIVIDITY- Bluish Green

Hydrogen Sulfates

LIVIDITY- Deep Blue

Aniline

LIVIDITY- Black

Opiates

RIGOR MORTIS- Definition

Caused by the chemical changes in muscle tissue after death that causes them to stiffen

Begins immediately

Caused by the lack of ATP

RIGOR MORTIS- Science

Cellular Respiration in cells stops upon death. This deprives the system of Oxygen used to make Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP). Because ATP is no longer present to run the SERCA pumps (they transport calcium to the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum.) TLDR- Cellular respiration stops making the protein that controls calcium in cells, so the calcium just kinda diffuses everywhere and bind with proteins that control muscles and hence control the functions.

RM- 1-4 hours

Jaw and Neck rigid, rest of the body Limp

RM- Up to 8 hours

Everything down to the legs is rigid

RM- Up to 12 hours

Everything remains rigid

RM- 24 hours

Jaw is limp, everything else is rigid

RM- 30-32 hours

Everything but the legs are limp

RM- 36 hours

Entire body is limp (no rigidity)

Decomposition has begun

RM- Effecting Circumstances

1) Starvation

2) Extreme Temperatures

3) Physical Exertion

4) Effects of fire

5) or water (in case of drowning)

RM- DROWNING DEATHS

Rigor Mortis can develop fully in 2-3 hours

DECOMPOSITION

CO2 is produced, which produces swelling

caused by Autolysis (enzymes self digest)

5 Stages of DECOMPOSITION

1) Initial decay

2) Putrefication

3) Black Putrefication

4) Butyric Putrefication

5) Dry Decay

PRE-DECOMP

1) Color changes

2) Purge Fluid

3) Marbling of Skin

4) Degloving

5) Tache Noire

DECOMP- 1) Color Changes (it's green)

12-18 hours- starts in the abdominal skin

24-36 hours- covers the entire abdomen

36 hours + - slowly moves to rest of the body

DECOMP- 2) Purge Fluid

Decomposition fluid that exits from nasal or oral passages.

DECOMP- 3) Marbling of Skin

Happens when blood reacts with Hydrogen Sulide produced by bacteria (it's basically the visibility of the veins)

Normally accompanied by Bloating

DECOMP- 4) Degloving

in cases of decomposition and cases involving external temperatures (ie. fires)

Literally the skin on the hands pealing off

DECOMP- 5) Tache Noire

Occurs when the eyes are open post-mortem

Areas of the sclera dry out which produced a yellowish band that turns brownish-blackish of discoloration

occurs 7-8 hours after death

French for - Black Spot of the Sclera

DECOMP- Initial Decay

0-3 days after death

Bacteria in digestive track start eating intestines, break through and begin feeding on surrounding organs

Individual cells break down, realising cell contents and enzymes into the body

DECOMP- Putrefication

4-10 days after death

Body will be bloated from gas build up

Gases released by bacteria that live in the intestines

Skin Blisters

Build-up of fluids from ruptured cells and intestines

Skin begins slipping

DECOMP- Black Putrefication

10-20 days after death

Body begins to collapse and black surfaces are exposed

Bloated body collapses and leaves a flatten one

Large volume of body fluid drain

DECOMP- Butyric Putrefication

20-50 days after death

Remaining flesh on body is removed and body dries out

Cheesy Smell from butyric acid

Surface of body in contact with the ground may mold as body ferments

DECOMP- Dry Decay

50-365 days after death

Body is dry and continues to decay slowly (lack of moisture)

Mostly reduced to hair and bones

Eventually the hair will disappear

FINDING TIME OF DEATH- Algor Moris

X= body temp when found

Y= body temp difference

Z= body temp after 12 hours

37-X= Y

if Y> 9.36 then dead for more than 12

if Y< 9.36 then dead for less than 12

AM- Y>9.36

Y-9.36= Z

Z/.39

whole number=hours

decimal= minutes

decimal * 60

Add 12 to whole number

AM- Y<9.36

Z/.78

whole number=hours

Decimal= minutes

decimal * 60

Dr. Melinek's 5 Autopsy Examination Basics

1. External Examination

2. Internal Examination

3. Specimens are taken for additional testing

4. Disease and Injury Tests

5. Documentation

   ~ Diagrams

   ~ Photographs

   ~Autopsy Report

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

SIDS BABIES ARE NOT BLUE

Sudden death of an infant under 1-year old without reason or explanation

The arousal Complex is altered

SIDS- Pathology

CAUSES

1. Inadequate prenatal care

2. Smoking

3. Anemia

4. Venereal Disease

5. Urinary Tract Infection

6. Low birth weight

7. inadequate post-natal care

8. lack of breast feeding

9. GI infections

SIDS- Indicators

Sudden, they're normally quiet, and just kinda stop breathing

ASPHYXIAL DEATHS- definition

the state or process of being deprived of oxygen, which can result in unconsciousness or death; suffocation.

ASPHYXIAL DEATHS- Types(8) and Pathology

1. Vitiated Atmosphere- high altitude, lack of oxygen

2. Smothering- external blockage of airways

3. Chocking- internal blockage of airways

4. Manual Strangulation- Application of force with forearm or hand

5. Ligature Strangulation- application of force with rope, cord or wire

6. Hanging- contriction of neck by ligature in downward motion

7. Traumatic Asphyxia- Fixation of weight on the chest

8. Drowning- partial or complete immersion of water

ASPHYXIAL DEATHS- CYANOSIS

Due to excessive concentration of deoxyhemoglobin in the blood caused by deoxygenation

ASPHYXIAL DEATHS- Right ventricular (right) dilation

Swelling of the heart chamber that pumps blood away from the heart

ASPHYXIAL DEATHS- Petichia

small hemorrhages in tissue

Petechial hemorrhages are like needle marks

take place above where asphyxia took place

The Biology of Drowning

wet (85%-95%), dry (5%-15%)

lividity on face, neck, and head

whitening/wrinkling of the skin

peeling of epidermis

Aircell hemorrhages = blood from ears

water in lungs = alive to prior or been dead long which makes everything relax so water gets in- bodies sink unless stopped- will surface after the gas has entered tissues

freshwater -> cells grow from water rushing in during osmosis

salt -> cells shrink from salt. Heart rate speeds up and leads to cardiac arrest

The Pathology of Wounds

Bruises are hemorrhages in tissues produced by the escape of blood from blood vessels

Dr. Melinek's 5 Classifications of Death

1. Overwhelming pathological findings

2. Presence of disease with lethal potential

3. Marginal pathology combines with a compelling history and the exclusion of other causes

4. Lethal pathology is not structurally demonstratable

5. Undetermined

GUNSHOT WOUNDS- Things to look at

1. Range of Fire

2. Direction of Fire

3. Entrance

4. Exit

GUNSHOT WOUNDS- Range of Fire

4 things that come out of the gun other than bullets

1. Gas

2. Complete combustion of gunpowder: founding

3. Incomplete combustion of gunpowder: stippling

4. Flame

GUNSHOT WOUNDS- Direction of Fire

Derived from relation of entrance to exit

GUNSHOT WOUNDS- Entrance

Small "punched out" central defect

The circumferential rim of abrasion

soot/stippling

Atypical: folds of skin, ricochet, reentry

If the muzzle is on the skin- star pattern, blowback on the skin

GUNSHOT WOUNDS- Exit

Lacerated

Approximation of edged maintains skin integrity

Atypical (shored): may have abrasion/contusion

Blunt Trauma

ABRASION- scrape or scratch from rubbing/shearing

CONTUSION- bruise caused by tearing or crushing of small blood vessels

LACERATION- A tear of the skin, soft tissues, or internal organs (blunt force trauma)

-Tissue bridges

-Undermining

-irregular edges

-associated bruising

INCISIONS- deeper, cleaner edges

CAYLEE ANTHONY (define and trial details)

was a 2-year-old girl allegedly murdered by her mother, Casey Anthony in Orlando Florida

other people involved in the case (Family)

George and Cindy Anthony (grandparents)

Jesse Grund (fiancee)

CAYLEE ANTHONY- Pathology

Duct tape around the nose mouth and jaw (before decomp- jaw, and teeth were intact)

No trauma

supposed Asphyxial death

Wrapped in a trash bag and found in a wooded area less than a half-mile from the Anthony's home

Reduced to fragile bones (skull broke under the watch of defense's ME)

Casey's Car smelled like decomposing human flesh