Embalm final

Total and irreversible cessation of all metabolic processes

Death

Directional occurrence of rigor from face to feet

Nysten's Law

Dying condition; dying

Moribund

Semi-convulsive twitches which often occur before death

Death Struggle

Death of the entire body

Somatic Death

Period immediately before somatic death. Sequence of steps as an expanding inability of the body to sustain the physiologic and metabolic process for life

Agonal Period

Occurrences in a sequence of events that are a function of time without oxygen: 1. cerebral cortex, 2. midbrain, 3. brain stem

Brain Death

Irreversible somatic death - cessation of simple body processes, organs no longer function

Biological Death

Individual cells die, process may continue for hours after somatic death

Postmortem Cellular Death

Brain and nervous cells -> 5 min
Muscle cells -> 3 hours
Cornea cells -> 6 hours
Blood cells -> 6 hours

Progression of Cellular Death

Agonal period
Somatic death
Clinical death
Brain death
Biological death
Postmortem cellular death

Stages of Death

(Physiology) The normal degeneration and death of living cells (as in various epithelial cells); antemortem, physiological death of cells of the body followed by their replacement

Necrobiosis

Pathologic death of cells or tissue as a result of disease

Necrosis

When spontaneous respiration and heartbeat irreversibly cease

Clinical Death

Death Is a:

Process, not a moment in time

1. Temp changes
2. Circulatory changes
3. Moisture changes
4. Trans-location of microorganisms

Changes During the Agonal Period

Decrease in body temperature immediately before death

Agonal Algor

Increase in body temperature immediately before death

Agonal Fever

Settling of blood into the dependent tissues before death. Due to the slowing of circulation, prior to death

Agonal Hypostasis

Change from a fluid into a thickened mass, clotting and congealing, prior to death

Agonal Coagulation

Opening of the pores in the walls of capillaries as the body attempts to get more oxygen to tissue and cells

Agonal Capillary Expansion

1. Cessation of respiration
2. Cessation of circulation
3. Muscular flaccidity
4. Changes in the eye: clouding of cornea, loss of luster and conjunctiva, flattening of the eyeball, dilated and unresponsive pupil
5. Postmortem lividity
6. Rigor mortis
7. Algor mortis
8. Decomp

Signs of Death

Agonal algor
Agonal fever

Temperature Changes

1. Agonal hypostasis
2. Agonal coagulation
3. Agonal capillary expansion

Circulatory Changes

1. Agonal edema
2. Agonal dehydration

Moisture Changes

Increase in amount of moisture or fluids in tissues and body cavities due to disease or agonal capillary expansion

Agonal Edema

Decrease in amount of moisture or fluids in tissues and body cavities due to disease or capillary expansion

Agonal Dehydration

Movement of microorganisms from one area of the body to another due to capillary permeability changes
Results from organisms no longer being restricted
Movement established by hypostasis, entering circulatory system, or natural mobility features
Movement from intestinal areas to the blood vascular system
Also known as agonal translocation

Translocation of Microorganisms

Physical changes
Chemical changes

Postmortem Changes

Brought about by the 'forces of nature' and create changes in the physical state of the body and its tissues

Postmortem Physical Changes

Cooling of the body to the temperature of the surrounding environment

Algor Mortis

Gravitation of blood and body fluids to dependent areas of the body

Hypostasis

Postmortem intravascular blood discoloration brought about by hypostasis

Liver Mortis

Loss of moisture from the body's surface due to the surrounding atmosphere

Dehydration

Thickening of blood primarily due to loss of liquid portion to tissue spaces

Increased Viscosity of Blood

Relocation of microorganisms in the body due to cessation of natural activities

Endogenous Invasion of Microorganisms

Brought about by chemical activity and result in the formation of new substances

Postmortem Chemical Changes

Temporary rise in body temperature after death

Postmortem Caloricity

Shift from slightly alkaline to acidic during rigor, then back to alkaline for decomposition

Change in Body pH

Natural body process causing postmortem stiffening of body muscles

Rigor Mortis

Color change due to heme seeping into body tissues from hemolysis

Postmortem Stain

Compounds breaking down into simpler substances by enzymes

Decomposition

Factors originating within the body

Intrinsic Factors

Factors from the body's surrounding environment

Extrinsic Factors

Body parts closest to the ground

Dependent Parts

Pale areas due to inhibited blood movement

Contact Palor

Liver Mortis Also Known As

Postmortem Lividity or Cadaveric Lividity

Cells drawing moisture from surroundings

Imbibition

Thick, viscous clumps formed by blood elements

Sludge

Solid portion: made up of blood cells
Liquid portion: what the cells are suspended in

2 Portions of Blood

Produces tissue gas
Embalmer's Nightmare

Clostridium Perfingens

Sum of all chemical reactions within the cell
1. Anabolism - building phase
2. Catabolism - breakdown phase

Metabolism

Relaxation of muscles immediately after death

Primary Flaccidity

Occurs after rigor mortis has left the body
Muscles return to a state of limpness and flaccidity

Secondary Flaccidity

Digestion of cells or tissues by the cell's own enzymes

Autolysis

Organic compounds with an amino group; derivatives of ammonia

Amines

Smelly breakdown products of protein putrefaction
- Alkaline substances
- Foul odor

Ptomaines

Decomposition of proteins by enzymes from anaerobic bacteria

Putrefaction

Decomposition of proteins by enzymes from aerobic bacteria

Decay

Speeds up chemical reaction rate

Catalyst

Chemical bonds break and new bonds form

Transition State

Glucose breakdown process

Fermentation

Forms from postmortem body fats hydrolysis

Adipocere

1. Carbs
2. Soft proteins
3. Fats
4. Hard proteins
5. Bones

Order of Decomp of Bodily Compounds

1. Color
2. Odor
3. Skin slip
4. Gases
5. Purge

Signs of Decomp

Greenish discoloration over right lower quadrant of abdomen

First Color Change in Death

Outer skin layer weakens due to autolysis in deeper layers

Desquamation (Skin Slip)

Evacuation of gases, liquids, and semisolids from body orifice

Purge

Stethoscope, Ophthalmoscope, Electroencephalogram, Electrocardiogram, Evoked Response

Expert Tests of Death

Listen for Breath/Heart Beat

Inexpert Tests of Death

What does the term extrinsic mean?

- external to the body
(to the outside of the body)

What does the term intrinsic mean?

- inside the body

Using a fluid with hypertonic qualities helps...

- us eliminate moisture.

Using a hypotonic solution can help...

- avoid dehydration.

Using a low index fluid can help...

- embalm jaundiced bodies without turning them green.

Using a fluid with humectant qualities can help...

- us add or retain moisture.

Using a hypertonic solution can help...

- us reduce excess water / edema.

Using cold/cool water when mixing fluids can help...

- avoid clotting blood

Algor mortis is a ___________ change to a dead body.

- physical

Dehydration is a __________ change to a dead body.

- physical

Hypostasis is a __________ change to a dead body

- physical

Livor mortis is a __________ change to a dead body.

- physical

Increased blood viscosity is a ___________ change to a dead body.

- physical

Bacterial translocation is a __________ change to a dead body.

physical

Algor Mortis (the post-mortem cooling of the body to the surrounding temperature)

- slows the onset of rigor mortis and decomposition; keeps blood in a liquid state and aids drainage.

Dehydration

increases the viscosity of the blood; may retard decomposition (putrefaction)

the liquid portion of the blood is being absorbed into the body; causes a resistance to blood flow and fluid distribution.

Increased Blood Viscosity

bacteria may move from the intestines to other areas of the body; this may speed decomposition.

Bacterial Translocation

Rigor mortis is a __________ change in a dead body.

- chemical

Decomposition is a __________ change in a dead body.

- chemical

Post-mortem stain is a __________ change in a dead body.

- chemical

Post-mortem caloricity is a _________ change in a dead body.

- chemical

Shift in the body pH is a _________ change in a dead body.

- chemical

makes features and body difficult to set; extravascular resistance to injection and an increased preservative demand; changes muscular firmness

Rigor mortis (the post-mortem stiffening of the body by natural causes)

color changes, skin slips, purge, gas and distension; poor distribution of solution; increased preservative demand; rapid swellings in the affected areas.

Decompostition

cannot be removed by embalming, but can be bleached; increased preservative demand; areas will turn grey after embalming.

Post-mortem stain

the body has lost its ability to cool itself; causes a temporary rise in body temperature; speeds rigor mortis and decomposition.

Post-mortem caloricity

Shift in body pH

interferes with fluid reactions.

The first time period of embalming analysis is...

prior to embalming