CHANGES DURING SOMATIC DEATH Flashcards
Primary Changes
Circulatory Failure
Respiratory Failure
CNS Failure
Secondary Changes
ARLP DPA
Algor mortis
Rigor mortis
Livor mortis
Post-mortem Clotting
Dessication
Putrefaction
Autolysis
means that the patient has died.
somatic death
Loss of ECG rhythm
Circulatory failure
Cessation of respiration
Respiratory failure
Loss of EEG rhythm
CNS failure
Primary Changes
• Occurs______, then death follows
4-6 minutes
This will be experienced by the body during complete cessation or loss of metabolic and functional activities of the body
Primary change
• Cardiac function ceases
• Flat electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Absence of heartbeat
Circulatory Failure
Decreased O2 and increased
CO2
Absence of respiratory sounds and movements
Respiratory Failure
CPR prevents
Circulatory and Respiratory failure
M2M prevents
Respiratory failure
• Loss of coordination and reflexes
Absence of stem reflex
Absence of electroencephalogram (EEG) activity
CNS Failure
• This can be presented or observed using the naked eye.
• Usually follows after death
• Can be observed during post-mortem examination
Secondary changes
Body temperature decreases by
7°F per hour
Algor mortis
Algor mortis
Body temperature decreases by…
7°F per hour
The first demonstrable change observed in a dead body
Algor mortis
Body temperature will adjust to the surroundings
Algor mortis
Rigidity or stiffening of muscles due to lack of ATP
Rigor mortis
Rigor mortis
• First appears in the….
• Observed in_____, followed by____, then_____
involuntary muscles of the heart
eyelids
neck
lower extremities
Rigor mortis
Starts______
Completes______
Persists for_____
2-3 hrs post-mortem
6-12 hrs post-mortem
3-4 days
Rigor mortis
• After 3-4 days,______ occurs due to breakdown of contracted muscles
relaxation
First seen in the muscles of the head and the neck, down to the lower extremities.
Rigor mortis
• Purplish discoloration of skin due to blood stasis
Livor Mortis
Livor mortis is differentiated from
Ecchymosis
These are bruises before death
Ecchymosis
This is due to stoppage of blood circulation
Livor mortis
If you put pressure on a specific area where there is discoloration, it will disappear then reappear when the pressure is released.
Livor mortis
CAUSE
Livor mortis:
Ecchymosis:
Post-mortem stasis of blood
Trauma before death
APPLICATION OF PRESSURE
Livor mortis:
Ecchymosis:
Discoloration disappears
No disappearance
AFTER INCISION
Livor mortis:
Ecchymosis:
Has oozing blood
No oozing of blood
Occurs immediatelv after death
Apparent only in autopsy
Post Mortem Clotting
APPEARANCE
POST MORTEM CLOT:
ANTE-MORTEM CLOT:
Upper layer is clear (chicken fat);
RBC settled at the lowest part of blood vessels (currant jelly)
Tangled; irregular fibrin
SHAPE
POST MORTEM CLOT:
ANTE-MORTEM CLOT:
Assumed blood vessel shape
Seldomly assumes blood vessel shape
CONSISTENCY
POST MORTEM CLOT:
ANTE-MORTEM CLOT:
Rubbery
Non-rubbery
NEXT 3 STAGES OF DEATH
Dessication
Putrefaction
Autolysis
The next 3 stages of death occurs______ and leads to the_______
simultaneously
total digestion of cells
• General drying and wrinkling of fluid-filled organs
Desiccation
Desiccation
Most evident on the_____ and the____
cornea
anterior chamber of the eye
Greenish blue discoloration with Odor
Putrefaction
Putrefaction
______discoloration with Odor
Greenish blue
Putrefaction
Release of gas due to invasion of the tissue by a bacteria called ________
Clostridium welchii
= sullphahemoglobin (green)
Hydrogen sulfide + hemoglobin
Hydrogen sulfide + hemoglobin =
sullphahemoglobin (green)
“Self-destruction”
The self-digestion of the cells by their own enzymes
Autolysis
Autolysis
First external sign is the______
whitish appearance of cornea
T or F
RBC can undergo Autolysis
FALSE
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