Death Flashcards
When blood no longer circulates and breathing stops.
This occurs when the heart stops.
May be reversed if the heart can be promptly restarted using cardio- pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), defibrillation and/or injection of epinephrine directly into heart muscle.
Clinical Death
Brain cells begin to die from lack of oxygen and nutrients within 4-6 minutes after the heart stops.
Other cells die at varying times thereafter.
Most cells die within 6 hours after the heart stops.
The last cells (bone, skin and tendon) may not die for up to 12 hours after clinical death.
Cell Death
________________ occurs when all brain activity ceases and the brain is no longer capable of sustaining the other body functions.
Brain Death
When the body ceases to function as a fully integrated organisms.
When brain dies, ________________ occurs.
Biological Death
When all cells of the body have died.
This may be up to 12 hours after death unless the body is embalmed sooner.
Somatic Death
Clinical death may be reversed if the heart can promptly restarted using _______________________
- Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
- Defribillation
- Injection of epinephrine directly into the heart muscle
How many minutes does brain cells begin to die from lack of oxygen and nutrients after the heart stops?
4 to 6 minutes
Most cells die within __________ after the heart stops.
6 hours
What are the cells that die last up to 12 hours after clinical death?
- Bone
- Skin
- Tendon
When the heart stops circulating blood, the red blood cells settle on the lower or dependent parts of the body.
If the body is lying on it’s back, discoloration will begin as reddish patches on the back.
Later, the discolored areas may become reddish-blue. It usually begins within 1/2 to 2 hours after death and is most intense after 8 hours.
Livor mortis (lividity)
Muscles naturally begin to contract or stiffen 2-4 hours (or 3-6 hours) after death
All muscles stiffen at the same time but first becomes evident in smaller muscles such as the jaw.
Naturally disappears about 36 hours after death.
Rigor mortis
As cellular metabolism stops, so does the production of heat.
The body begins to cool.
A body will cool down to the surrounding temperature in the Philippines in about 5-7 hours
Algor mortis
Cells and then tissues finally organs breakdown or decompose after cellular death.
Decomposition
What is the cause of decomposition of body?
- Enzymes found within the cells
- Also in part by bacteria from the intestines
Within minutes after biological death, _____________ that have been kept within the intestinal tract by body defenses may be found throughout the body
bacteria
