PL5.1 POSTMORTEM

What type of death is characterized by the irreversible loss of sentient personality and inability to be aware of or communicate with the environment?

Somatic death

What type of death involves the loss of voluntary movement and appreciation of sensory stimuli?

Somatic death

What type of death occurs when tissues and their cells no longer have metabolic activity due to ischemia and anoxia?

Cellular death

What process follows cardiorespiratory failure and leads to loss of metabolic activity in tissues?

Cellular death

What type of death occurs at different rates in different tissues like cerebral cortex, muscle, and connective tissue?

Cellular death

What type of brain death results in the loss of higher cerebral activities but preserves brainstem functions?

Cortical death

Which type of brain death allows heartbeat and respiration to continue while the patient is in a vegetative state?

Cortical death

Which type of brain death can result in a deep coma for an indefinite time?

Cortical death

Which brain condition still shows a beating heart and spontaneous breathing despite loss of consciousness?

Cortical death

What type of brain death involves loss of vital centers that control respiration and RAAS system?

Brainstem death

Which condition leads to the immediate somatic death due to brainstem failure?

Brainstem death

What brain structure is affected in brainstem death?

Brainstem

What brain region is primarily affected in cortical death?

Cerebral cortex

What is the state of unawareness and unresponsiveness to stimuli in death?

Unconsciousness

What is indicated by the absence of all reflexes such as pain, corneal, gag, and light reflexes?

Loss of all reflexes

What term refers to the complete relaxation of muscles observed during death?

Muscle flaccidity

What two major physiological functions cease upon death?

Circulatory and respiratory functions

Which test for circulatory cessation involves inserting a thread in the finger?

Magnus test

Which test for circulatory cessation involves pressing the fingernail?

Fingernail test

Which test uses a flashlight on the skin to detect blood flow after death?

Diaphanous test

Which test involves applying heat to the skin to check for a reaction after death?

Heat test

Which test involves injecting fluorescent dye to detect circulation?

Icard’s fluorescein test

Which test involves making an incision in an artery to check for bleeding?

Artery incision test

Which instrument is used to record heart activity and shows flatline upon death?

Flat ECG

Which test for respiratory cessation uses a mirror to check for breath condensation?

Mirror test

Which respiratory test involves placing a feather to detect breath movement?

Feather test

Which test for respiration uses water on glass to check for breath activity?

Winslow glass water test

What is the immediate sign of death characterized by inability to move voluntarily?

Loss of voluntary power

What are the two functions that immediately cease upon death?

Respiration and circulation

What early postmortem change is characterized by pale skin and loss of elasticity?

Pallor and loss of skin elasticity

What early eye change appears as a dark band across the sclera?

Tache noire

What is the initial phase of muscle relaxation after death?

Primary flaccidity

What is the stiffening of muscles that occurs hours after death?

Rigor mortis

What is the pooling of blood in the dependent parts of the body called?

Hypostasis

What is the gradual reduction in body temperature after death called?

Cooling of the body

What late postmortem change involves decomposition by bacteria and enzymes?

Putrefaction

What late postmortem change forms a waxy substance from body fat?

Adipocere

What late change results in drying and preservation of the body in dry environments?

Mummification

What is characterized by skin turning pale due to lack of circulation 15 minutes after death?

Pallor and loss of skin elasticity

What term describes a yellow to brownish-black band on the sclera if eyes are left open postmortem?

Tache noire

What describes the initial relaxation of all muscles postmortem that lasts 3 to 6 hours?

Primary flaccidity

What is the postmortem stiffening of muscles starting from small joints and lasting up to 36 hours?

Rigor mortis

What is the term for postmortem rigidity that appears instantly in traumatic deaths?

Cadavereic spasm

What refers to bluish-purple skin discoloration on dependent body parts postmortem?

Hypostasis

What causes petechial hemorrhages in dependent areas due to ruptured vessels postmortem?

Tardieu spots

What is the hypostasis color associated with CO2 poisoning?

Cherry red

What is the hypostasis color associated with cyanide poisoning?

Dark blue-pink

What is the hypostasis color associated with nitrite, aniline, and chlorate poisoning?

Brownish red

What is the hypostasis color associated with phosphorus poisoning?

Dark brown

What is the hypostasis color associated with anaerobic septicemia?

Bronze

Which postmortem change appears on dependent areas with pale pressure points and is superficial?

Hypostasis

Which skin discoloration has well-defined edges and washable blood upon incision?

Hypostasis

Which skin condition has ill-defined edges, is raised, and blood coagulates in tissue?

Bruise

Which appears anywhere on the body and is caused by ruptured capillaries deep into the skin?

Bruise

What postmortem muscle state occurs

Rigor mortis (early stage)

What muscle condition is associated with a warm and stiff body within 3–8 hours postmortem?

Rigor mortis

What postmortem muscle state occurs when the body is cold and stiff between 8–36 hours?

Rigor mortis

What postmortem condition is seen when the body is cold and flaccid beyond 36 hours?

Late postmortem stage

What factor causes rigor mortis to appear more rapidly in children and the elderly?

Age

What factor speeds up rigor mortis in deaths from bacterial infections?

Nature of death

What causes slow onset and long duration of rigor mortis due to healthy muscles?

Muscular state

What atmospheric condition causes rapid onset of rigor mortis?

Hot environment

What atmospheric condition causes slow onset of rigor mortis?

Cold environment

What is the term for the postmortem cooling of the body?

Algor mortis

How long does it take for the body to approach surrounding temperature in algor mortis?

15–20 hours

What postmortem phenomenon is characterized by the body temperature rising or staying high for up to 2 hours after death?

Postmortem caloricity

What phenomenon is seen in heat stroke, lightning, electrocution, burns, and rabies after death?

Postmortem caloricity

Which postmortem temperature condition is associated with pontine hemorrhage and asphyxia?

Postmortem caloricity

What postmortem temperature condition is seen in deaths involving extreme muscular activity?

Postmortem caloricity

Name one environmental factor that affects cooling of the body.

Environmental temperature

Name one body composition factor that affects cooling of the body.

Obesity or Emaciation

What posture slows down the rate of body cooling?

Fetal position

What effect does clothing have on algor mortis?

Slows down cooling

What is the term for the late postmortem change where body tissues break down?

Decomposition

What process begins around 3 days after death due to bacterial action?

Putrefaction

Where is putrefaction first visually observed?

Abdomen

What sign of putrefaction is caused by gas formation in the abdomen?

Gas distention

What part of the body swells during putrefaction, along with the face?

Neck

What skin change appears during putrefaction?

Skin blisters

Which genital parts may swell during putrefaction?

Scrotum and penis

What process involves liquefaction of tissues from natural openings during putrefaction?

Tissue liquefaction

What type of insect infestation is common in late putrefaction?

Maggots

After 12 to 18 months, what remains of the decomposed body?

Skeleton with tendons

How long after death does it take for the full body skeletonization to occur?

3 years

What is the waxy substance formed from body fat during postmortem decomposition in moist environments?

Adipocere

What process involves hydrolysis and hydrogenation of adipose tissue after death?

Adipocere

Which type of environment favors adipocere formation?

Wet or moist environment

Which bacteria is believed to assist in adipocere formation?

Clostridium perfringens

What is the forensic significance of adipocere?

Preserves the body for decades or centuries

What postmortem change involves drying of tissues instead of liquefaction?

Mummification

Which type of environment favors mummification?

Dry and hot environment

What kind of environment, such as deserts or closed rooms, leads to mummification?

Dry and hot environment

In what type of individuals is mummification more likely to occur?

Thin individuals

Why are thin individuals more likely to undergo mummification?

Their bodies cool quickly