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FIP > 28. The Body After Death > Flashcards

28. The Body After Death Flashcards

1
Q

What factors help estimate the time of death?

A

Changes in the body
Environmental evidence
Anamnesic evidence

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2
Q

What is the best method of estimating the time of death?

A

Core body temperature

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3
Q

What steps must you undergo before pronouncing death?

A 
Pupillary light reflex
Absence of breath
Absence of heart sounds
Absence of pulse
Each checked for 1 min
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4
Q

What immediate changes happen after death?

A

No BP or oxygen
Loss of neuronal activity
Breathing stops
Small muscle twitches

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5
Q

What are the early changes after death?

A

Rigor mortis
Livor mortis
Algor mortis

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6
Q

What is the chemical process that causes rigor mortis?

A

Anaerobic metabolism in muscle leads to high lactic acid

irreversible actin and myosin binding lead to muscle rigidity

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7
Q

Which muscles does rigor mortis usually start in?

A

jaw, face, neck

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8
Q

What does the rate of onset of rigor mortis depend on?

A 
Temperature (faster if warm)
Physical activity before death
Age
Sex
Build (faster in more muscle)
Condition (faster in sepsis)
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9
Q

Give examples of how rigor mortis also affects organs

A

Causes myocardial contraction
Iris contraction can cause unequal pupils
Goose flesh

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10
Q

What is the time of death estimation if the body is warm and flaccid?

A

<3 hours

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11
Q

What is the time of death estimation if the body is warm and stiff?

A

2-8 hours

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12
Q

What is the time of death estimation if the body is cold and stiff?

A

8-36 hours

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13
Q

What is the time of death estimation if the body is cold and flaccid?

A

> 36 hours

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14
Q

What is cadaveric spasm?

A

Rare form of instantaneous rigor

Happens when person dies in the middle of intense physical or emotional activity

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15
Q

What are 2 more names for livor mortis?

A

Lividity

Hypostasis

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16
Q

What is livor mortis?

A

Gravity causes pooling of blood in veins and capillaries
Pink/purple/blue discoloration
No pooling in areas that were in contact with underlying surfaces

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17
Q

What is livor mortis useful for?

A

Can indicate if the body was moved after death

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18
Q

What can petechiae indicate?

A

Asphyxiation

19
Q

What does cherry pink lividity indicate?

A

CO poisoning

20
Q

What does pink lividity indicate?

A

Hypothermia

21
Q

What does brick red lividity indicate?

A

Cyanide poisoning

22
Q

What does bronze lividity indicate?

A

Clostridia perfringens sepsis

23
Q

What is algor mortis?

A

The cooling of the body after death

Core temp falls by about 1C every hour after 3.5 hours

24
Q

What is Newton’s law of cooling?

A

Warm body in a cool environment will lose heat from its surface until temperature equilibrilates

25
Q

How is heat lost from the body after death?

A

Radiation
Convection
Conduction
Evaporation if wet

26
Q

What graph is used to estimate time of death from body temperature?

A

Henssge’s temperature curve

27
Q

How does the body decompose?

A

Autolysis of cells by their own enzymes

Soft tissues broken down by bacteria

28
Q

What day does decomposition become visible?

A

3

29
Q

What organs are the first to decompose?

A

Adrenal medulla

Pancreas

30
Q

Which organs are the most resistant to decomposition?

A

Heart
Prostate
Uterus

31
Q

What is putrefaction?

A

Liquefaction of tissue by bacteria

32
Q

What is the green discoloration of the abdomen after death caused by?

A

Bacteria from the bowel break down haemoglobin

33
Q

Where does putrefaction start?

A

RIF

Spreads to flanks

34
Q

What effects does putrefaction have on the body?

A

Green discoloration of abdomen
Blister formation leading to ‘skin slipping’
Marbling of veins
Gas formation

35
Q

What does gas formation in putrefaction lead to?

A

Bloating of the abdomen and scrotum

Purging of urine, faeces and gastric contents

36
Q

What is Casper’s rule?

A

The body will take twice as long to decompose in water than on land

37
Q

What is adipocere?

A

Hydrolysis and hydrogenation of adipose

Forms a waxy white substance which turns chalky over time

38
Q

Why can adipocere be useful?

A

In damp conditions it can be useful to retain the shape of the face, body and injuries

39
Q

What is mummification?

A

Drying of tissues instead of liquefactive putrefaction

40
Q

What effect does mummification have on the body?

A

Skin becomes brown and leathery

Possible preservation of internal organs

41
Q

What types of bodies are most likely to become mummified?

A

Thin people

Newborns

42
Q

What is skeletonisation?

A

Loss of soft tissue

43
Q

What is entomology?

A

Study of interaction of insects with the corpse to discover the time of death

FIP (36 decks)

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