60. Postmortem changes

Question 1

Name 10 PM changes in latin + english

Answer 1

Question 2

• Algor mortis*

Answer 2

English: Cooling off

• NO Heat production/metabolism

Question 3

Cooling off is dependent on…

Answer 3

• Hair, subcutaneous fat tissue
• Temp. of surroundings
• Zone (temperate/tropical)

Question 4

Pallor mortis

Answer 4

English: Pale colour

• Blood settles to lower parts of the body
  
  • Skin + mucous membranes are pale
  • Contraction of small blood vessels

Question 5

Why is pallor mortis difficult to observe in animals?

Answer 5

Not as visible, due to hair and pigmentation

Question 6

exsiccatio postmortalis

Answer 6

drying out, often seen in piglets nose

mummification–> complete dehydration of tissue

Question 7

maceratio postmortalis

Answer 7

English: Soaking

• Skin and organs filled with fluid
• animals in water, foetus

Question 8

• rigor mortis*

Answer 8

English : stiffness
* Occurs in all muscle types
* starts 2-4 hours
* stops 48-60 hours

Question 9

cruor postmortalis

Answer 9

English: Postmortem clot

• Dark red, smooth, fleshy
• Blood clots 15-30 minutes after death

Question 10

livores mortis

Answer 10

English: Blood sedimentation

• Causes lividity (bruise colour)
• blood will go to lower point “gravity” –> causes blueish-purple discolouration

Question 11

Imbibition

Answer 11

English: Discolouration

ex: Haemoglobin ( from aorta)

Question 12

autolysis

Answer 12

English: Self-softening

Breaks down cells

Question 13

putrefaction

Answer 13

English: Postmortem destruction

Anaerobic decomposition of organic amtter by bacteria & fungi

Question 14

Factors slowing the rate of putrefaction

Answer 14

• Lean body
• dehydration

Question 15

Adipocere

Answer 15

English : Post mortem wax

Grave wax formed by anaerobic bacteria in fat
- browm or white
- forms soap like