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What is the first part of the postmortem exam?
External Exam
cuts, bruises, scars
discoloured skin
position of body
gunshot or stab-wounds = type of weapon used
skin under fingernails = struggle/fighting
bruising in the mouth
tattoos can conceal injection sites = look closely
teeth recorded = dental records useful for identification
What is the process of the postmortem exam?
Look at circumstances
Complete exam (internal & external)
Take samples - histopathology
Extraction chemical analysis
Identify & Quantify
Was there a toxic chemical present? Was is a fatal dose?
What is histopathology?
the study of tissues/organs affected by disease
What is the second part of the postmortem exam?
Internal Exam
torso opened, followed by the head
organs removed and weighed one at a time - histopathology
weight is important = if heart is heavier than usual, suggests congestive heart disease as a cause of death
look at the liver for paracetamol poisoning cases = yellow, green colour and slightly smaller
foreign objects identified = trajectories, all recorded
entry/exit wounds are analysed to determine the murder weapon - if necessary
What is forensic pathology?
a postmortem exam to identify circumstances and cause of death (mainly used in specific cases or where death isn’t obvious)
use of histopathology = cutting up organs to see if they colours inside are healthy, the study of tissues or organs that may have been affected by disease