Forensics Textbook mechanism cause manner of death

how many people die under suspicious terms and therefore need an autopsy

around 20 percent

coroners can/can not perform autopsies

can not

how many people die under suspicious terms and therefore need an autopsy

around 20 percent

coroners can/can not perform autopsies

can not

if a death is suspicious, the coroner will

contact a forensic pathologist

who can order additional testing

all three specialists - coroners, medical examiners, forensic patholigests

many convictions rely on determining

when the victim died

if a victim dies as a result of suicide, then their life insurance

will not pay their beneficiaries`

where was the first autopsy performed

Egypt, executed criminals

British tax collectors named crowners, who later became coroners got their name because

they were paid in crowns

the holy roman empire authorized

human dissection

the chinese manual “washings of wrongs” came out on how to

examine corpses and conduct mediological investigations

what artists performed autopsies

Leonardo DaVinci and Michealangelo

who performed studies on human anatomy

vesalius

when was research published on rigor, livor, and algor mortis

mid 19th century

when was research published on the role of stomach contents, potassium levles in the eye, forensic entomology, and botany in death investigations

20th century

in bigger cities, - have replaced coroners

medical examiners

the official death certificate somtimes lists the

cause and mechanism of death

the first hour after death, some cells are still

respiring and generate some heat

since not all cells die at the same time, cell death is

different than death of the whole organism

investigators take the temperature from the - so that results can be -

liver or rectum, more accurate

algor mortis can be reliable for the first

24 hours

if a person was in shock, had congestive heart faliure, hypothermia, or lost a significant amount of blood, then

their body temp would be lower than normal

the body will lose heat until eventually it

reaches the same temp as the sorroundings

thin bodies lose heat

faster than heavy bodies

an extended body will lose heat faster than

a curled up one

exercise prior to death generates

heat

a body will cool in still water - than air, a body in running water will cool - times faster than air

twice, three times

when does lividity first become present - and at this time it will dissapear when skin is pressed

2-8 hours after death

livor mortis progresses faster in

heat

livor mortis may not develop in a person who

has anemia or lost a lot of blood

lividity in two different areas shows

that the person was moved

if a body needed to be transported when rigor was at its peak, it may be necessary to

break bones to change the position of the body

what does rigor mortis mean

death stiffness

rigor mortis occurs

2-6 hours after death

rigor begins in

small muscle groups, such as face and neck

warm temp - rigor

accelerates

exercise - rigor, while sleep - rigor

accelerates, slows

thin people are - in rigor

accelerated

rigor begins

2-6 hours

peak rigor is at

12 hours

rigor is uneven, first lost in small muscle groups

15-36 hours

rigor absent

36 to 48 hours

a cloudy film can be observed first - when the eyes are open, and - when they are closed

2-3 hours after death, 24 hours after death

is it possible to obtain a fingerprint from a dead body?

yes

when do these things happen: cell autolysis begins, muscles lose tone, bladder and rectum empty and lose control, flies arrive to deposit eggs on the body

several hours after death

when do these things happen: blistering of the skin results in skin slippage, putrefacation, bloating, force open openings, marbaling, insects activity

several days after death

adipocere and greatest loss of mass happens

3 weeks to two months after death

what stage is this: corpse appears normal on the outside, but is starting to decompose from bacteria and autolysis.

fresh or initial

what stage is this: odor of decaying flesh is present, the corpse appears swollen, skin marbles, may split open from collected gases, resulting in fluid seepage.

bloating (putrefaction)

what stage is this: very strong odor, flesh discolored beyond recognition, skin is rupturing.

active decay (black putrefaction)

what stage is this: corpse drying out, most flesh is gone, adipocere is forming.

advanced decay

what stage is this: bones remain

dry or skeletal

sick individuals, younger individuals, obese people, unclothed bodies decompose

faster

high temp low humidity, lower temp, bodies in water or buried decompose

slower

rule of thumb:
Body feels warm and is limp (- hours)
Body feels warm and stiff (- hours)
Body cold and stiff (- hours)
Body cold and limp (- hours)

(less than 3 hours)
(3-8 hours)
(8-36 hours)
(more than 36 hours)

the amount of decomposition that would take one week in the air would take - weeks in water and approximatley - weeks if burried

two, eight

prior to examination of the body 4 things need to happen

obtain information, scan the scene, document crime scene, search for evidence

death is determined based on 3 things

pulse, respitory rate, reflexes

state laws vary, but all states require autopsies for

injury, poisoning, or unusual

brusing in circular pattern

strangulation

v shaped bruise higher up on neck

hanging

two parts of autopsy

external and internal

typical autopsy takes

6 hours

what cuts are made for autopsy

Y shaped from sholder to shoulder, ear to ear across forhead (pls note vital organs are removed)

what things are tested during autopsy

saliva, liver, eye, urine, vaginal/anal

how long if undigested stomach contents present

2-6 hours after last meal

stomach empty, food in small intestine

6-12 hours after last meal

small intestine empty, waste in large

over 12 hours after last meal

bloody froth from mouth and nose, shrivled skin

drowning

white foam in mouth and nose

overdose

bright red color skin, lips

carbon monoxide poison

jaundice, yellow liver

alcoholism

fully dialated pupil side of head with trauma

blunt force trauma