3. Death. Clinical and biological death. Signs of biological death.

Question 1

What is Death?

Answer 1

END of Life

AFTER CESSATION of Respiratory, Cardiac + Brain Function

Due to

1. Natural Causes
2. Disease
3. Violence

Question 2

1| What is the RARE Cause of Death?

Answer 2

NATURAL CAUSES

• Physiological Aging
• Wearing Out of Tissues

Question 3

2| What is the MOST COMMON Cause of Death?

Answer 3

DISEASE

• Structural Changes in Organs
• IN COURSE of Disease LEADING to Failure of Function

Question 4

3| What is the Cause of ‘Violent Death’?

Answer 4

Accidental / Intentional Acts

• Trauma
• Transport Accident
• Homicide

OBJECT of Forensic Pathology

Question 5

Death can be __________ or

_________, according to Period of Developing

Answer 5

Sudden

Agonal

Question 6

What is Sudden Death?

Answer 6

Result of Acute / Severe Damage to Organs of VITAL Importance

E.g MI / Brain Haemorrhage / Aortic Aneurysm Rupture

Question 7

What is Agonal Death?

Answer 7

Occurs in a LONGER PERIOD of Time

Minutes –> Several Hours

Question 8

What are the 2 Stages of Death Development?

Answer 8

1. Clinical Death

2. Biological Death

Question 9

1| What is Clinical Death?

Answer 9

REVERSIBLE State (Within FEW Mins)

STOP of Breathing + Cardiac Function

ADEQUATE Resuscitation = Basic Vital Functions are RESTORED

Question 10

2| What is Biological Death?

Answer 10

IRREVERSIBLE Cessation of Respiration, Cardiac + Brain Activity

AFTER Clinical Death

Signs are EITHER:

a. Early
b. Late

Question 11

2a| What are the 4 Early Signs of Death?

Answer 11

• Livores
• Rigor Mortis
• Algor Mortis
• Dessicatio

Question 12

2a| What is Livores?

Answer 12

Dark Purple Marks –> Pale = From PRESSING

Dark Marks = Death Via Cardiac Failure; LESS Intense for Death via Anaemia

DUE to BLOOD ACCUMULATION in LOWER PARTS of Body; AFTER CESSATION of Blood Circulation

ARE Blood Clots FORMED in Veins + RS-Heart = Post-Mortem

Question 13

2a| What is Rigor Mortis?

Answer 13

Muscle STIFFNESS AFTER Death

WITHIN first few hrs after Death

SPREADS around Body

LOW TEMP of Environment DELAYS this process

Question 14

2a| What is Algor Mortis?

Answer 14

COOLING of Body

DUE to CESSATION of METABOLIC Processes

Accompanied by HEAT LOSS from Body

Process is CONTINUOUS UNTIL Body Temp = Envir Temp

RATE of Process = 1C / Hr

Question 15

2a| What is Dessicatio?

Answer 15

DRYING of Body

DUE to WATER LOSS –> Surrounding Environment

Question 16

2b| What is the Late Sign of Death?

Answer 16

DECAY

DUE to AUTOLYSIS of Soft Tissues

Occurs in GLANDULAR TISSUES = Abundance of HYDROLYTIC Enzymes

Question 17

2b| What is Autolysis of the Stomach + Intestines Called?

Answer 17

Post-Mortal Gastromalacia

DUE to Digestive Enzymes + Putrefactive Bacteria in GIT

Tissues are DARK GREEN + REPULSIVE Odour

Accelerated VIA SEPSIS / Body left in WARM Environment

Delayed in COLD Environment