Chapter 7: Pathology

Virtopsy

A visualizing scanner system that allows for multimodal viewing of a body, both internally and externally, for autopsy purposes.

Asphyxia

A type of mechanical trauma in which the body is deprived of oxygen.

Strangulation

Occurs by manual or ligature compression of the structures of the neck, often leaving characteristic physical evidence, such as the fracture of the hyoid bone and bruising.

Chemical Asphyxiation

Occurs when the oxygen in the air is replaced by some other gas, such as carbon monoxide (CO)

Blunt force trauma

Caused by dull or non-sharpened objects, like baseball bats, bricks, or lamps.

Smears

A mark or streak of a greasy or sticky substance; where the collected fluid on each swab is wiped across a separate clean glass microscope slide.

Putrefaction

The disintegration of the body by the action of microorganisms, such as bacteria.

Exhumation

The action of digging up something buried, especially a corpse.

Modern Autopsy

Involves the standardized dissection of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death.

Virchow Method

Removing the internal organs, either all together or individually; each organ is removed, examined, weighed, and sampled separately to isolate any pathologies or evidence of disease.

Petechiae

Pinpoint hemorrhages found around the eyes, the lining of the mouth and throat, as well as other areas often seen in hanging or strangulation victims.

Suffocation

Occurs by covering the nose and mouth, blockage of the major airways with a foreign object.

Formaldehyde

Main chemical used to preserve the body.

Contusion

Accumulation of blood in the tissues outside the normal blood vessels and is most often the result of blunt impact.

Thomas Baldridge

First American coroner.

Coroner

Examines all bodies before burial and appraise all wounds, bruises, and other signs of possible foul play.

Autolysis

The disintegration of the body by enzymes released by dying cells.

Rigor Mortis

The stiffening of the body after death due to the membranes of muscle cells becoming more permeable to calcium ions.

Hospital Autopsy

Conducted based on a doctor's request and the family's permission.

Pathologist

A medical doctor who studies and diagnoses disease in humans.

Medical Examiner

Typically a physician who has gone through four years of university, four years of medical school, four years of basic pathology training (residency), and an additional one to two years of special training in forensic pathology.

Toxicology Screen

Tests that help the forensic toxicologist determine the absence or presence of drugs and their metabolites, chemicals such as ethanol and other volatile substances, carbon monoxide and other gases, metals and other toxic chemicals in human fluids and tissues.

Mechanical Trauma

Occurs when the force applied to a tissue, such as skin or bone, exceeds the mechanical or tensile strength of that tissue.

Manner of Death

The way in which the causes of death came to be.

Forensic Pathologist

A pathologist who has studied not only disease, but also trauma (wounds and damage) that leads to the death of an individual.

Pathologist

A medical doctor who studies and diagnoses disease in humans

Modern Autopsy

Involves the standardized dissection of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death.

Primary Cause of Death

A three-link causal chain that explains the cessation of life starting with the most recent condition and going backward in time.

Secondary Cause of Death

Includes conditions that are not related to the primary cause of death but contribute substantially to the individuals demise, such as extreme heat or frigid temperatures, is typically listed

Medico-legal autopsy

Performed pursuant to a medical investigation of death for legal purposes

Manner of Death

The way in which the causes of death came to be

Coroner

Examines all bodies before burial and appraise all wounds, bruises, and other signs of possible foul play

Medical Examiner

Typically a physician who has gone through four years of university, four years of medical school, four years of basic pathology training (residency), and an additional one to two years of special training in forensic pathology

Mechanical Trauma

Occurs when the force applied to a tissue, such as skin or bone, exceeds the mechanical or tensile strength of that tissue

Sharp force trauma

Injuries caused by sharp implements, such as knives, axes, or ice picks

Hematoma

A blood tumor or a contusion with more blood

Suffocation

occurs by covering the nose and mouth, blockage of the major airways with a foreign object

Strangulation

occurs by manual or ligature compression of the structures of the neck, often leaving characteristic physical evidence, such as the fracture of the hyoid bone and bruising

Chemical Trauma

damage and death which results from the interaction of chemicals with the human body

Hypothermia

too much exposure to cold

Hyperthermia

exposure to excessive heat

Livor Mortis

also known as postmortem lividity, is the settling of blood due to gravity after the heart no longer circulates it through the body; result in a purplish discoloration in the skin

Autolysis

the disintegration of the body by enzymes released by dying cells; and

Putrefaction

the disintegration of the body by the action of microorganisms, such as bacteria

Toxicology Screen

Tests that help the forensic toxicologist determine the absence or presence of drugs and their metabolites, chemicals such as ethanol and other volatile substances, carbon monoxide and other gases, metals and other toxic chemicals in human fluids and tissues

Society of Forensic Toxicologists, Inc. (SOFT)

an organization composed of practicing forensic toxicologists and those interested in the discipline for the purpose of promoting and developing forensic toxicology

Exhumation

the action of digging up something buried, especially a corpse

Embalming

a process of chemically treating the dead human body to reduce the presence and growth of microorganisms, to retard organic decomposition, and to restore an acceptable physical appearance

Formaldehyde

Main chemical used to preserve the body

Visual Examination

The _______ of a body starts with a careful description of the deceased’s clothing, photographs (including close-ups) of the body both clothed and unclothed, and a detailed examination of the entire body.

ventricular fibrillation

a random quivering that does not pump the blood through the body properly.

microtome

a machine that makes very thin, very precise slices