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Embalming > Chapter 5 - Agonal & Postmortem Changes > Flashcards

Chapter 5 - Agonal & Postmortem Changes Flashcards

1
Q

What can a prolonged agonal period increase the likelihood of?

A

A prolonged agonal period increases likelihood that disease processes have progressed, secondary infections are present, and drug therapies have altered tissue conditions and chemical balance in the body.

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2
Q

Stages of Somatic Death (Postmortem Period).

A

Clinical death, brain death, biological death, and postmortem cellular death.

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3
Q

Signs of death?

A

Cessation of respiration, cessation of circulation, muscular flaccidity, changes in the eye including: (cornea clouding, luster loss of conjunctiva, eyeball flattening, dilated & unresponsive pupils), postmortem lividity, rigor mortis, algor mortis, decomposition.

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4
Q

Free space.

A

Free Space.

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5
Q

What is Agonal Algor?

A

The cooling of the body temperature prior to death.

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6
Q

What is Agonal Fever?

A

An increase in body temperature prior to death.

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7
Q

What is Agonal Hypostasis?

A

The settling of blood into the dependent tissues of the body due to gravity winning against circulation.

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8
Q

What is Agonal Coagulation?

A

The circulation of blood slows and begins to clot.

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9
Q

What is Agonal Capillary Growth/Expansion?

A

The dilation of the capilaries in an effort to send more oxygen to the tissues/cells.

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10
Q

What is Agonal Edema?

A

The increase in amount of moisture/fluid in the tissues/body cavities. Can result from disease processes and capillary expansion.

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11
Q

What is Agonal Dehydration?

A

A decrease in amount of moisture/fluids in the tissues/body cavities.

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12
Q

What is Translocation?

A

The movement of microorganisms from one area of the body to another where it’s not supposed to be.

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13
Q

What are the two types of Postmortem changes classification? Explain.

A

Physical or Chemical changes. Physical changes are produced by forces of nature, physical state of body changes. Natural physical changes do NOT change the chemical composition of the body though– ie: force of gravity moving blood from one area to another.
Chemical changes are generated by chemical activities that result in the formulation of new chemical substances. Involves making/breaking bonds between atoms. Largely dependent on autolytic enzymes that stimulate the reactions between substances in the tissues.

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14
Q

What is Algor Mortis?

A

A postmortem physical change in the body. Slows the onset of rigor mortis and decomposition. Helps maintain blood in a liquid state. Can increase the degree of livor mortis and postmortem stain.

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15
Q

What is Hypostasis responsible for?

A

Livor Mortis.

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16
Q

What is Livor Mortis?

A

Discolouration. Also known as postmortem lividity or cadaveric lividity. Two factors play an important role in the degree of intensity. Blood Volume and Blood Viscosity.

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17
Q

What is Contact Pallor?

A

The areas where the blood movement has been stopped/inhibited. Most obviosu in areas where the body has been in contact with a surface.

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18
Q

Define Metabolism.

A

The sum of all chemical reactions that occur within a cell.

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19
Q

What are the two phases of Metabolism? What do they do?

A

Anabolism: the building phase.

Catabolism: the breakdown phase. Releases heat and energy.

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20
Q

What is Postmortem Stain?

A

The extravascular blood discolouration created by the hemolysis of the blood.

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21
Q

What is Hemolysis?

A

The rupture/destruction of red blood cells.

22
Q

What’s the normal pH for a body?

A

7.4 and becomes more acidic after death.

23
Q

What is primary flaccidity?

A

The muscles being relaxed as death occurs.

24
Q

What happens when a body is embalmed while muscles are flaccid?

A

The proteins will react well with the preservative and tissue fixation will occur.

25
Q

What happens when a body is embalmed when rigor is fully developed?

A

The stiffness of the muscles will impede the distribution of preservative. The proteins of the muscles are tightly bound together so they’re less reactive.

26
Q

What is secondary flaccidity?

A

When rigor mortis passes naturally from an unembalmed body usually within 36-72 hours. More preservative is needed.

27
Q

What are the three major biochemicals in the body? What is most important?

A

Proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. Proteins are the most important from the standpoint of structure and function.

28
Q

What are proteins made of?

A

Carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. The chemical bond that links two proteins together is called a peptide bond/linkage.

29
Q

What is it called when protein chains break down during decomposition due to catalytic enzymes?

A

Proteases.

29
Q

What are Ptomaines?

A

Also known as foul amines, they’re a group of bad smelling amine compounds that result from putrefactive bacteria. They’re what smell when you smell a rotting corpse.

29
Q

What is decomposition of the tissues/organs within the body called?

A

Putrefaction.

30
Q

Difference between anaerobic bacteria and aerobic bacteria?

A

Anaerobic bacteria don’t need oxygen to live, aerobic bacteria do.

31
Q

What environmental things speed up and slow down hydrolysis?

A

Heat speeds it up, cold slows it down.

32
Q

What is the process by which glucose breaks down called?

A

Fermentation.

33
Q

What is the final product of fat decomposition? When is it caused?

A

Adipocere or “grave wax.” It’s caused during hydrolysis and hydrogenation of lipids.

34
Q

What is the decomposition order?

A

The rate of decomposition is different in different parts of the body. BUT the order is:

  1. Carbohydrates
  2. Soft Proteins
  3. Fats/Lipids
  4. Hard Proteins
  5. Bones
35
Q

What is the optimal temperature for decomposition? At what temperature is the process slowed?

A

Optimal temperature is 98 degrees fahrenheit. The process is slowed/stopped at temperatures below 32 degrees fahrenheit or above 120 degrees fahrenheit.

36
Q

What are the five classic signs of decomposition?

A

Colour, odour, skin sliip, gases, and purge.

37
Q

Where does the first external colour change in an unembalmed body occur? What does it look like?

A

It’s a greenish discolouration over the right lower quadrant of the abdomen.

38
Q

What is Marbling?

A

The purplish brown discolouration of the superficial veins.

39
Q

What is Skin Slip (Desquamation)?

A

The superficial skin layer weakens as the deeper layers undergo autolysis, causing the superficial layer of skin to slough or “slip” off.

40
Q

Where does gas generally start to form?

A

Intestines and stomach, then later on in the body tissues.

41
Q

What is crepitation?

A

The movement of gas through the tissues that causes a crackling sensation when pressure is applied.

42
Q

What is Purge? What is it caused by? What are the types of purge?

A

It’s the evacuation of gases, liquids, and semi-solids from a natural body orifice. Generally caused by buildup of gas pressure in the abdomen when related to decomposition.

Stomach purge: acidic, smells bad, undigested food material.

Lung purge: frothy due to air bubbles, frothy-red colour if theres blood in the lungs.

Both usually exit from oral and nasal orifices.

Anal purge: fecal material that comes out of the ass.

43
Q

What is Taphonomy?

A

The scientific study of decomposition. The study of processes (ie: burial, decay, preservation) that affect body remains. Think body farms.

44
Q

What does decomposition category one (1) entail?

A

Fresh: 1-6 days. Three stages.

  1. smells bad, lividity, rigor mild
  2. green abdominal area, hemolysis, intense rigor – rigor passed, skin slip, dehydration of features & fingers
  3. hemolysis, tissues soften, skin slip
45
Q

What does decomposition category two (2) entail?

A

Bloat: 7-23 days. Three stages.

  1. body swelling begins, head/face discoloured, marbling, bullae (large blisters filled with liquid) on skin surface
  2. moderate swelling, head/trunk discolouration
  3. maximum body swelling
46
Q

What does decomposition category three (3) entail?

A

Desctruction/Active Decay: 24-50 days. Two stages.

  1. gases released, soft tissues putrefied, total breakdown of the blood
  2. partially skeletonized, adipocere (grave wax), mummification
47
Q

What does decomposition category four (4) entail?

A

Dry/Skeleton: 51-64 days. Two stages.

  1. skeleton with ligaments
  2. skeleton with no soft tissues
48
Q

What are some postmortem chemical changes?

A

Rigor mortis, postmortem stain, postmortem caloricity, shifts in pH, decomposition.

49
Q

What are some postmortem physical changes?

A

Algor mortis, hypostasis, livor mortis, dehydration, increase in blood viscosity, endogenous invasion of microorganisms

Embalming (6 decks)

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