17 - Death and Physical Injuries 2026

Death

Termination of life and the complete cessation of vital functions without the possibility of resuscitation

Somatic or clinical death

Complete, persistent, and continuous cessation of the vital functions

Molecular or cellular death

Death of individual cells

Death or "State of suspended animation"

Transient loss of consciousness or temporary cessation of the vital functions of the body

Lazarus phenomenon

Delayed return of spontaneous circulation after cessation of CPR

Magnus test

Examination of the peripheral circulation, where a ligature is applied around the base of a finger

Icard's test

Examination of the peripheral circulation, through the injection of fluorescein subcutaneously

Diaphanous test

Examination of the peripheral circulation, where the finger webs are viewed through a strong light

Algor mortis

A prominent sign of death where there is a progressive fall of the body temperature

Post-mortem caloricity

Rise in temperature of the body after death due to putrefactive changes

Tache noir de la sclerotique

After death, a spot may be found in the sclera

Rigor mortis

Gradual stiffening of the muscles after death

3-6 hours after death

Onset of rigor mortis

12 hours

Whole body becomes stiff after how many hours?

Heat stiffening

Pugilistic attitude is seen in what condition

Cadaveric spasm

Instantaneous rigidity of the muscles that occurs at the moment of death due to extreme tension

Clostridium welchii/perfringes

Usual microorganisms seen during decomposition

• Healthy adults

• Excessive amount of moisture

• Skinny

• Stillborn

• Tight clothing

Factors that delay putrefaction

• Accessibility of the body to free air

• Moderate amount of moisture

• Full-grown and highly obese

• Optimum temperature of 70°F to 100°F

• Died from infection/anasarca

• Running water

Factors that speed up putrefaction

Cadaveric lividity or post-mortem suggillation

Blood accumulates in the most dependent portions of the body after death

12 hours

Cadaveric lividity peaks how many hours after death?

Carbon monoxide

Cause of death with color of lividity characterized as bright pink

Marbolization

Prominence of the superficial veins with reddish discoloration during the process of decomposition

24 hours

Rigor mortis is absent all over after how many hours after death?

48 hours

Time since death where moving maggots are seen

72 hours

Time since death, where the whole body is grossly swollen and disfigured

1 month

Time since death, where the body is skeletonized

Mummification

Dehydration of the whole body, which results in shivering and preservation of the body

Saponification

Condition wherein the fatty tissues of the body are transformed into a soft, brownish white substance known as adipocere

Maceration

Softening of the tissues when in a fluid medium

3-4 hours

It takes how many hours for the stomach to evacuate the contents after a meal

10 years

A missing person is presumed dead after how many years, for all purposes, including succession

4 years

A missing person following extraordinary circumstances will be presumed dead after how many years, for all purposes, including succession

2 years

One may remarry if the spouse has been absent for how many years under extraordinary circumstances

Hospital or non-medicolegal autopsy

Autopsy done with the consent of relatives for the purpose of determining the cause of death

Medico-legal or official autopsy

Autopsy done to determine the cause, manner, and time of death

Natural death

Death caused by a natural disease condition in the body

Violent death

Due to injuries inflicted on the body by some forms of outside force

Parricide

Killing of one's relative

• Person was killed by the offender

• Person killed was the father, mother, or child (whether legitimate or illegitimate), or any ascendants or descendants, or spouse (must be legitimate)

Requisites of parricide

Infanticidal death

Killing of a child less than 3 days old

Tardieu spots

Punctiform hemorrhages of the pleura

Active euthanasia

Intentional or deliberate application of the means to shorten the life of a person

Orthothanasia

Allowed to die a natural death with no intervention

Dysthanasia

Extraordinary treatment to extend/prolong life

48 hours after death

Death certificate should be forwarded to the municipal secretary within how many hours after death

Municipal health officer Mayor Secretary or any councilor

In the absence of the attending physician, the death certificate will be signed by

≥25 meters

Burial grounds should be how many meters from any dwelling house

≥50 meters

Burial grounds should be how many meters from a river/any source of water

3 years

Permit to disinter non-disease-causing communicable disease after how many years?

5 years

Permit to disinter a person who died from a dangerous communicable disease, after how many years?

Coup injury

Physical injury that is located at the site of application of force

Contre-coup

Physical injury found opposite the site of application of force

Locus Minoris Resistencia

Physical injury located in some areas offering the least resistance to the force applied

Patterned wound

Nature and shape of an object or instrument, which infers the object or instrument causing the wound

Serious physical injuries

Committed to anyone who shall wound, beat, or assault another, and the offended is incapacitated for labor for more than 30 days

Imbecility Impotence Face mutilation

Types of injuries that qualify as serious physical injuries

Homicidal

Suicidal or homicidal: Wound is horizontal below the Adam's apple

Suicidal

Suicidal or homicidal: Hands smeared with blood

Less serious physical injuries

Period of medical attendance >10 days but < 30 days

Slight physical injury

Incapacitate the victim for labor for 1-9 days or require medical attendance during the same period

Red-purple

Color of contusion soon after its complete development

Green

Color of contusion soon after 4-5 days

Yellow

Color of contusion soon after 7-10 days

Abrasion

Type of wound characterized as a scratch, graze, impression mark, or friction mark

Lacerated wound

Type of wound that is described as roughly cut, irregular, and ill-defined

Incised wound

Type of wound that is described as clean cut, regular, and well-defined

Scalding

Injuries due to boiling liquid

Ante-mortem

Ante mortem or post mortem: Wound edges are deeply stained, not removed by washing

Post-mortem

Ante mortem or post mortem: Wound edges do not gape

Fissure/Linear fracture

Caused by the impact of a blunt object, and may appear as a radiating crack from the site of the application of force

Pond or indented fracture

Fracture that is common in the skull of infants, wherein there is undue elasticity

<1,400 ft/sec

Low-velocity firearm

Beta rays

(+) or (-) charged electrons, high penetrating power, but ionizing power is less

600 ft/sec

Velocity of a revolver

Near fire

Range of gunshot wound of entrance where the muzzle imprint is present

Abrasion collar

Pressure of the bullet on the skin results in it being depressed

Bullet migration

The bullet loses its momentum while inside the chamber of the heart or inside the big blood vessels

Caliber

Diameter of the barrel between two lands (internal diameter)

Entrance

Entrance vs exit wound: Wound smaller than the bullet

Exit

Entrance vs exit wound: Always bigger than the bullet

Exit

Entrance vs exit wound: Everted edges

Entrance

Entrance vs exit wound: Presence of tattooing or smudging

Exit

Entrance vs exit wound: Negative paraffin test

Stippling/Tattooing

Caused by unburned particles of gunpowder striking the skin

Dermal nitrate/paraffin test

What test is used to detect the presence of small particles containing nitrite, resulting in a blue reaction

Harrison and Gilroy test

Yields a blue-violet color in the presence of lead, while a bright pink color is developed in the presence of barium

Contact or near contact

Near vs long-range shot: Subcutaneous and deeper tissues are severely disrupted

Heat stroke

What heat injury is described as sudden in onset, high body temperature, dry skin, and irregular respiration

Heat exhaustion

Heat injury that presents with a sudden attack of syncope and general body weakness

Fourth degree

Burn degree: The whole skin is destroyed with the formation of slough, which is parchment-like

Second-degree burn

Burn degree: Vesicle formation with acute inflammation

Anoxic death

What type of death is associated with the failure of the arterial blood to become normally saturated with oxygen

Anemic anoxic death

What type of death is due to decreased capacity of the blood to carry oxygen

Stagnant anoxic death

What type of death is brought about by the failure of circulation

Histotoxic anoxic death

What type of death is due to the failure of the oxidative process

Hanging

Hanging or strangulation by ligature: Hyoid bone is frequently injured

Hanging

Hanging or strangulation by ligature: Inverted V- shape with apex as the site of the knot

Strangulation with ligature

Hanging or strangulation by ligature: Level of ligature below the larynx

Café coronary

Sudden heart attack in the middle of dinner due to asphyxia by choking