(1) 5 - the appearance of the body after death

sir ppt only

biochemical changes

Death results in extensive ____ in all body tissues due to lack of circulating oxygen, altered enzymatic reactions, cellular degradation, and cessation of anabolic production of metabolites

decomposition

(Importance of knowing visible changes in death) To know the normal progress of ___ so that normal changes are not misinterpreted for signs of an unnatural death

unnatural death

(Importance of knowing visible changes in death) So that signs of ___ are not misinterpreted as signs of a natural death.

estimating

(Importance of knowing visible changes in death) These changes may be relevant in __ how long the individual has been dead.

loss of neuronal activity, muscular tone, and skin color, leakage of urine, feces and semen, regurgitation of gastric contents

rapid changes after death (5)

Loss of neuronal activity

Reflexes are lost and breathing stops.

Loss of neuronal activity

Corneal reflex ceases and the pupils stop reacting to light.

Loss of neuronal activity

Retinal vessels show the break-up or fragmentation of the columns of blood, which is called ‘trucking’ or ‘shunting’. (also known as KEVORKIAN SIGN)

‘trucking’ or ‘shunting’, kevorkian sign

Retinal vessels show the break-up or fragmentation of the columns of blood, which is called ___. (also known as ____)

Loss of muscular tone

The muscles rapidly become flaccid (primary flaccidity), with complete loss of tone, but they may retain their reactivity and may respond to touch or taps and other forms of stimulation for some hours after cardiac arrest.

flaccid (primary flaccidity)

The muscles rapidly become ___, with complete loss of tone, but they may retain their reactivity and may respond to touch or taps and other forms of stimulation for some hours after cardiac arrest.

reactivity

The muscles rapidly become flaccid (primary flaccidity), with complete loss of tone, but they may retain their ___ and may respond to touch or taps and other forms of stimulation for some hours after cardiac arrest.

Loss of skin color

Skin, conjunctivae and mucous membranes are pale

Loss of skin color

Face and the lips may remain red or blue in colour in hypoxic/congestive deaths.

red or blue

Face and the lips may remain ___ in colour in hypoxic/congestive deaths.

pale

Skin, conjunctivae and mucous membranes are ___

Leakage of urine, feces and semen

Loss of muscle tone may result in voiding of urine and feces.

Leakage of urine, feces and semen

Emission of semen is also found but cannot be used as an indicator of sexual activity shortly before death.

urine and feces.

Loss of muscle tone may result in voiding of ____

semen

Emission of ___ is also found but cannot be used as an indicator of sexual activity shortly before death.

Regurgitation of gastric contents

is a very common feature but it cannot be used to indicate that gastric content aspiration was the cause of death unless associated with inflammatory response.

inflammatory response

Regurgitation of gastric contents is a very common feature but it cannot be used to indicate that gastric content aspiration was the cause of death unless associated with ____

Rigor Mortis

A temperature-dependent physicochemical change that occurs within muscle cells as a result of lack of oxygen.

exercise and electrocution

Rigor mortis rapid development is seen in: (2)

young, the old or the emaciated.

Rigor mortis is extremely difficult to detect in the ___ (3)

Rigor Mortis

Develops uniformly throughout the body but it is generally first detectable in the smaller muscle groups.

smaller muscle groups

Rigor Mortis develops uniformly throughout the body but it is generally first detectable in the ___

Rigor Mortis

It appears to advance down the body from the head to the legs as larger and larger muscle groups become stiffened

head to the legs

Rigor mortis appears to advance down the body from the ___ as larger and larger muscle groups become stiffened

Rigor Mortis

The chemical processes that result in the stiffening of the muscles, in common with all chemical processes, are affected by temperature.

temperature

In rigor mortis, the chemical processes that result in the stiffening of the muscles, in common with all chemical processes, are affected by ____.

1 and 4

Rigor Mortis When detected: • In the face between approximately ____ hours after death.

3 and 6

Rigor Mortis When detected:• In the limbs between approximately ___ hours after death.

Rigor Mortis

Best to test for rigor across a joint using very gentle pressure from one or two fingers only.

joint, one or two

In rigor mortis, it is best to test for rigor across a ___ using very gentle pressure from ___ fingers only.

Cadaveric Rigidity

(also known as 'instantaneous rigor’, 'kataleptische Totenstarre’, and 'spasme cadverique’) is said to represent the instantaneous postmortem onset of rigor mortis.

instantaneous rigor, kataleptische Totenstarre, and spasme cadverique

Cadaveric rigidity is also known as: (3)

Post Mortem Hypostasis

Pink, purplish or bluish color to the lowest areas of the body and it is this colour change

livor mortis, lividity, suggillation

Post Mortem Hypostasis is also known as: (3)

Pink, purplish or bluish

____ color to the lowest areas of the body and it is this colour change that is called post-mortem hypostasis or lividity.

Cooling of the Body after Death

Newton’s Law of Cooling states that heat will pass from the warmer body to the cool environment and the temperature of the body will fall.

algor mortis

Cooling of the Body after Death is also known as

Newton’s Law of Cooling

____ states that heat will pass from the warmer body to the cool environment and the temperature of the body will fall.

37°C body temp, possible to take postmortem body temperature readings, thermally static environment

3 basic assumptions in order to use body temp as an indicator of time of death

Decomposition/putrefaction

The warmer the temperature, the earlier the process starts and the faster it progresses.

Decomposition/putrefaction

In temperate climates, the process is usually first visible to the naked eye at about 3–4 days as an area of green discoloration of the right iliac fossa of the anterior abdominal wall. This ‘greening’ is the result of the extension of the commensal gut bacteria through the bowel wall and into the skin, where they decompose hemoglobin, resulting in the green colour.

warmer

In Decomposition/putrefaction, The __ the temperature, the earlier the process starts and the faster it progresses.

3–4, right iliac fossa of the anterior abdominal wall.

In temperate climates, the process of decomposition is usually first visible to the naked eye at about __ days as an area of green discoloration of the _

greening

In decomposition, This __ is the result of the extension of the commensal gut bacteria through the bowel wall and into the skin, where they decompose hemoglobin, resulting in the green colour.

gut bacteria, hemoglobin

This ‘greening’ is the result of the extension of the commensal ___ through the bowel wall and into the skin, where they decompose ___, resulting in the green colour.

Decomposition/putrefaction

When present in the superficial vessels, results in linear branching patterns of variable discoloration of the skin that is called ‘marbling’, the prostate and the uterus are relatively resistant to putrefaction, and they may survive for months, as may the tendons and ligaments, bones may remain for years.

marbling

Decomposition/putrefaction: When present in the superficial vessels, results in linear branching patterns of variable discoloration of the skin that is called ___

prostate, uterus

Decomposition/putrefaction: the __ and the _ are relatively resistant to putrefaction, and they may survive for months, as may the tendons and ligaments, bones may remain for years.

Immersion and burial

will slow the process of decomposition.

Immersion and burial

Casper’s Law (or Ratio) states that: if all other factors are equal, then, when there is free access of air, a body decomposes twice as fast than if immersed in water and eight times faster than if buried in earth.

Immersion and burial

The level of moisture in the surrounding soil and acidity of the soil will both significantly alter the speed of decomposition.

Casper’s Law (or Ratio)

states that: if all other factors are equal, then, when there is free access of air, a body decomposes twice as fast than if immersed in water and eight times faster than if buried in earth.

moisture, acidity

Immersion and burial: The level of __in the surrounding soil and _ of the soil will both significantly alter the speed of decomposition.

Adipocere

A chemical change in the body fat, which is hydrolysed to a waxy compound not unlike soap.

Adipocere

Most commonly seen in bodies found in wet conditions.

Adipocere

In the early stages of formation, it is a pale, rancid, greasy semi-fluid material with a most unpleasant smell. When fully formed, it is a grey, firm, waxy.

pale, rancid, greasy semi-fluid, unpleasant smell

early stages of formation, adipocere

grey, firm, waxy

fully formed adipocere

Mummification

A body lying in dry condition. its tissue is dry and leathery and often brown in colour. It is most commonly seen in warm or hot environments such as desert.

dry, leathery. brown

Mummified tissue is and and often _in colour. It is most commonly seen in warm or hot environments such as desert.

Skeletalization

In a formally buried body, the soft tissues will be absent by 2 years.

Skeletalization

Examination of the bone marrow space may reveal residual organic material that can sometimes be suitable for specialist DNA analysis.

2 years

Skeletalization: In a formally buried body, the soft tissues will be absent by __

post-mortem injuries

It is not true to say that ___ do not bleed because many do leak blood

a rim of an early inflammatory response

In general, post-mortem injuries do not have __ in the wound edges

post mortem interval

PMI meaning

Cooling of the body after death

The pathologist is often asked for an opinion on PMI (the ‘time since death’) based on the pathological findings. While none of the changes after death can provide a precise ‘marker’ of PMI, the most reliable would appear to be related to the __

Henssge’s Nomogram

Currently, the most useful method of estimating the time of death is ___ which relies on three measurements : body temperature, ambient temperature and body weight.

body temperature, ambient temperature and body weight.

Currently, the most useful method of estimating the time of death is Henssge’s Nomogram which relies on three measurements : ___