Autopsy Pathology (P) Flashcards
What is autopsy pathology?
It refers to the post-mortem examination of a body to determine the cause of death or the nature of pathologic chances
Autopsy path is also known as what?
Necropsy
What are the purposes of autopsy?
1) Autopsy has served medicine in numerous ways and continues to play evolving roles in a time when technologies have dramatically improved and when new diseases, naturally occurring, or iatrogenic, continue to arise in the medical horizon
2) Autopsy remains as the singular opportunity for a comprehensive and indeed final and physical examination and lab medicine
Who can request for an autopsy?
1) Hospital
2) Physician
3) Family
4) Next of kin (due to unanswered clinical question in cases of natural death)
What are the components of autopsy consent?
1) Restrictions
2) Use of tissues for research in the institution
3) Scope of testing
4) Return of unused portions of organs w/ the body to the funeral professionals
5) Turn around time of reports
6) Any costs the family may be expected to incur
What are the diff types of limitations / restrictions?
1) External only
2) Chest only
3) Chest and abdomen only
4) No brain / head
5) Brain or other single organ
Who are the key players / individuals present in a room for anatomic pathology processes (autopsy)?
1) Resident pathologist
2) Autopsy technician / pathologists assistant
3) Attending pathologist
4) Student
5) Clinical physicians
What are the instruments used in anatomic pathology processes?
1) Positioner
2) Scalpel
3) Dissecting probe
4) Ruler
5) Knife
6) Razor knife
7) Pancake forceps
8) Forceps w/ teeth
9) Forceps w/out teeth
10) Wire cutters
11) Scissors
12) Bow scissor (blunt leading edge)
13) Retractor
14) Hemostatic clumps
15) Burkhaous skull breaker
16) Chisel and hammer
17) Bonecutting forceps
18) Electric autopsy saw
What is somatic death?
It refers to death or complete cessation of metabolic and functional activities of the organism or body as a whole
What are the 3 primary signs of somatic death?
1) Circulatory failure
2) Respiratory failure
3) CNS failure
What is circulatory failure?
It is the cessation of cardiac fxn, evident by absence of pulse and heart beat
What is respiratory failure?
1) It is the absence of O2 and accumulation of CO2
2) It is the loss of oxidative processes necessary for life
What is CNS failure?
It is the loss of coordination of various body fxns, loss of reflexes
What are the 7 secondary signs?
These follow after death and are observed in post mortem examination
What are the 7 secondary signs?
1) Algor mortis
2) Rigor mortis
3) Livor mortis
4) Pallor mortis
5) Postmortem clotting
6) Dessication
7. 1) Putrefaction
7. 2) Autolysis
What are the characteristics of algor mortis?
1) It is the 1st demonstrable change observed
2) It is characterized by cooling of the body
3) It occurs in a rate of about 7 DF/hr
4) It is accelerated during cold weather, in lean, malnourished, dehydrated individuals, after long wasting diseases, and severe hemorrhage
5) It is slowed down in certain infectious diseases, when death is followed by increase in temp
In algor mortis, what is the purpose of the cooling of the body?
To equalize that of the surrounding environment
Algor mortis is also known / referred to as what?
Coolness of death
What is the importance of algor mortis?
It is impt in establishing the approx time of death
What is rigor mortis?
It is the rigidity or stiffening of the muscles
What are the characteristics of rigor mortis?
1) It occurs about 6 - 12 hrs after death
2) It persists for 3 - 4 days
3) It is 1st seen in muscles of the head and neck spreading towards the lower extremities and subsequently disappearing in the same sequence
4) The position usually affected by the muscular activity at the time of death
Rigor mortis is also referred to as what?
Stiffness of death
What is livor mortis?
It is the purplish discoloration or lividity of the skin in the dependent portions of the body
What is the cause of livor mortis to occur?
Livor mortis occur due to the stasis and settling of blood into the dependent vessels w/c usually dilate due to loss in muscle tone
Livor mortis is also referred to as what?
Color of death
What is ecchymoses?
It is the discoloration w/c disappears on pressure, and reappears when pressure is released. On incision, oozing of blood is observed
What is pallor mortis?
It is a postmortem paleness w/c happens instantaneously
After death of a pt, what is the time duration before pallor mortis occur?
Pallor mortis occur 15 - 120 mins after death
What is the cause of pallor mortis to occur?
Pallor mortis occur due to the lack of capillary circulation throughout the body
Pallor mortis is also referred to as what?
Paleness of death
What is the importance of pallor mortis?
Paleness develops so rapidly after death that it has little to no use in determining the time of death
What is postmortem clotting (/ when does it occur)?
It occurs slowly, immediately after death
What is the comparison bet ante-mortem thrombi and postmortem thrombi?
In contrast to ante-mortem thrombi, postmortem thrombi show definite setting and separation of the RCs from the plasma
What is the characteristic of the portions of the blood clot present in a postmortem clotting?
These appear as a yellow “chicken fat” appearance, while other parts assume the shape of the vessel where they are found
What are currant jelly clots?
These are other clots that are present whereas they assume the shape of the vessel where they are found
What is desiccation?
It is the where drying and wrinkling of the cornea and interior chamber of the eye is present
What is the reason for the occurrence of drying and wrinkling of the cornea and interior chamber of the eye?
It is present due to the absorption of the aqueous humour
What is the principle of dessication?
It is the process of removal of the moisture from liquid or solid substance
What is produced in putrefaction?
Foul-smelling gases
Why are foul-smelling gases present in putrefaction?
These are present due to the invasion of the tissue by multiplying saprophytic organisms
What are the changes that are present / associated w/ putrefaction?
1) Greenish blue discoloration in the belly
2) Softening of the muscles
3) Retraction of the cornea
4) Loss of rigor motis
5) Peeling off the skin w/ crepitation in the subcutaneous tissue
6) Swelling of the face
What is the cause of the presence of greenish blue discoloration in the belly (w/c is a change associated / present in putrefaction)?
It is present due to the formation of iron sulfide
What is the cause of the presence of softening of the muscles (w/c is a change associated / present in putrefaction)?
It is present due to auto digestion
What is the cause of the presence of retraction of the cornea (w/c is a change associated / present in putrefaction)?
It is present due to absorption of aqueous humour
What is the cause of the presence of loss of rigor motis (w/c is a change associated / present in putrefaction)?
It is present due to the liquefaction of coagulated myosin
What is autolysis?
It is the self-digestion of the cells, by their own ferments, eventually undergone by all of the tissues of the body
What is the mechanism of action in autolysis?
Putrefactive bacteria w/c diffuse from their intestinal location into the surrounding tissues enhance the destruction of the cells
What is the action of post-mortem autolysis?
It evokes no inflammatory or cellular response so characteristic of ante-mortem necrosis of cells
What is the product of presence of progressive desiccation, putrefaction, and autolysis?
Total digestion of the soft tissues
