5 The Autopsy Flashcards

1
Q

Q: What does a coroner do?

A

A: investigates death and how it occurred

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2
Q

Q: List 4 types of death that must be reported to the coroner.

A

A: cause of death unknown
Death was violent, unnatural or suspicious
Death may be due to an accident (WHENEVER IT OCCURRED)
Death may be due to SUICIDE

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3
Q

Q: List 2 reasons for conducting hospital autopsies.

A

A: 2 from
Allows a thorough examination of the deceased, the extent of their disease, their treatment and its effects
Useful for audit
Monitoring effectiveness of new treatments
Teaching
Research

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4
Q

Q: What’s the use of a death certificate?

A

A: Allows you to see what the main causes of death are - helps divide funds more appropriately

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5
Q

Q: What are the differences between Coroners’ and Hospital Autopsy?

A

A: Hospital- Consent must be obtained from the next of kin, With consent ANY material can be taken

Coroners- NO consent needed, Material can only be taken if it is needed to help find the cause of death

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6
Q

Q: What are 4 causes of sudden unexpected death in the community?

A

A: Natural Causes of Sudden Unexpected Death

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE: Cardiac Arrhythmia is the usual mode of death, severe coronary artery atherosclerosis is the most common anatomical finding

Hypertensive Heart Disease: Usually accompanied by coronary artery atherosclerosis. Acute cardiac arrhythmia is the usual cause of death

Vascular System: Ruptured Aortic Aneurysm - associated with atherosclerosis and hypertension

Central Nervous System: Non-traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage - Berry aneurysm,
Intracerebral haemorrhage- Most common cause = hypertension

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7
Q

Q: What is a bruise?

A

A: DEFINITION: Bruise = an extravasated collection of blood which has leaked from damaged small arteries, venules and veins but not capillaries

A blunt trauma injury where a bruise is a contusion

Occurs alone or is associated with other injuries

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8
Q

Q: What affects a bruise?

A

A: Occurs more easily where the skin is lax

Fragility of vessels and coagulation state affect bruising

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9
Q

Q: What is an abrasion? What can it be due to?

A

A: DEFINITION: a graze or scratch

It is the most superficial of blunt trauma injuries

CONFINED TO THE EPIDERMIS

Due to tangential force - may have distal skin tag - e.g. friction burn

Due to vertical force - no distal skin tag - e.g. stamp

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10
Q

Q: Can a bruise occur before or after death?

A

A: both

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11
Q

Q: Can an abrasion occur before or after death?

A

A: both

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12
Q

Q: What is a laceration?

A

A: DEFINITION: a split to the skin due to BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA

Usually passes through the full thickness of the skin

Lacerations are deep and will bleed

Margins are ragged with crushing and bruising

Bridging fibres arch across the skin defect

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13
Q

Q: Where are lacerations common?

A

A: Common where skin can be COMPRESSED between the force and underlying bone - e.g. scalp, elbow, shin

Rare over soft fleshy ares - e.g. breast, buttocks

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14
Q

Q: What is flaying?

A

A: tangential applied force leading to horizontal laceration

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15
Q

Q: What is the difference between a cut and a stab? Describe these types of injury.

A

A: Cut = DEFINITION: the length of the injury is LONGER than its depth

Stab = DEFINITION: the depth of the wound is greater than the width

Edges are clean and margins are clear

Minimal injury to surrounding tissues

Information about weapon type can be gained from the wound

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16
Q

Q: What are incised wounds?

A

A: to some this means cuts AND stabs - to others it just means cuts

17
Q

Q: What causes cuts and stabs?

A

A: Caused by object with a sharp or cutting edge