Autopsy

Question 1

Why are autopsies important?

Answer 1

Gold standard for cause of death
Can reveal clinically unrecognized disease processes
Education for doctors
Research
Information on potentially heritable diseases for the family of the deceased
Ensure everything medically possible was done

Question 2

What are the three types of autopsies?

Answer 2

Medical (Clinical/Pathological)
Private
Forensic (coroner/Medico-Legal)

Question 3

Medical (Clinical/Pathological)

Answer 3

Quality control for disease treatment

Why death occurred in unexplained or poorly understood cases

Question 4

Private

Answer 4

Occurs at the request of the family for any reason

Question 5

Forensic (Coroner/Medico-Legal)

Answer 5

Usually for investigations of homicide, or other unexplained or suspicious deaths, accident, or other injury

Question 6

What are the 4 criteria for an autopsy?

Answer 6

Identify the deceased
Who’s jurisdiction it falls under (Coroner/hospital)
Cross check the authorization form
Perform the actual autopsy

Question 7

Identification

Answer 7

Match the medical record number fo the named patient to the body tag on the autopsy permit

Question 8

Jurisdiction

Answer 8

Is the case medical or a coroner’s case?

Question 9

Authorization

Answer 9

Make sure you have the correct patient

Get legal signatures of authorization from next of kin

Question 10

Performance

Answer 10

Conduct the autopsy

Question 11

What is the difference between external and internal examination

Answer 11

Outside (skin) vs inside (organs/bones/etc.)

Question 12

External examination steps

Answer 12

Height and weight
X rays or MRIs
Photography
Collection of any necessary physical evidence from the body exterior
Hair and nail samples
Lacerations, abrasions, bruises
Scars, tattoos, previous injury marks, moles, birthmarks
Sutures, staples, or tubing from hospital care
Hair color, eye color, body condition, nutritional status, age

Question 13

Internal examination steps

Answer 13

Incision (usually a Y), but also T, single line, or U but they are inferior
Cut cartilage between ribs and remove chest plate
Fluid around heat and lungs
Blood for micro cultures
Remove and measure the organs

Question 14

Vitreous Humor

Answer 14

Often used for time of death in forensic cases, measures amount of potassium in the liquid of the eye, more accumulates the longer the corpse has been dead

Question 15

Livor Mortis

Answer 15

“Color of Death”
red blood cells and plasma collect in the “bottom” of the body based on position at time of death since heart stops beating
White areas indicate points of rest or pressure
Line forms at 8 hours if unmoved

Question 16

Algor Mortis

Answer 16

“Coolness of Death”
temperature of the body

Body cools after death one degree per hour until achieving ambient temperature
Temp starts to rise again when body starts decomposing

Question 17

Rigor Mortis

Answer 17

“Stiffness of death”
flexibility of the body
Shows up 2 hours after death, peaks at 12 hours, lasts until 24 hours, ends between 24 and 36 hours