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Taphonomy, Trauma and Skeletal Biomechanics > Decomposition > Flashcards

Decomposition Flashcards

1
Q

What is decomposition?

A

A process that begins at death, involving loss of soft tissue and skeletonisation

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2
Q

What are the 6 stages of decomposition?

A
  1. Fresh
  2. Initial decay - bloating
  3. Putrefaction
  4. Black putrefaction
  5. Buytric fermentation
  6. Dry decay
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3
Q

List these organs in the order they decompose:
1. kidneys
2. stomach
3. lungs
4. blood

A
  1. Intestines, STOMACH, digestion organs, heart & BLOOD
  2. Air passages & LUNGS
  3. KIDNEYS & bladder
  4. Brain & nervous tissue
  5. Skeletal muscle
  6. Connective tissue & integument
  7. Bones
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4
Q

What is autolysis and what causes it?

A

Cellular self-destruction, caused by lack of oxygen

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5
Q

Describe what happens in autolysis.

A
  1. Hydrolytic enzymes release into cytoplasm
  2. Digest proteins and carbs
  3. Carbon dioxide decreases pH of cell cytoplasm
  4. Nutrient-rich fluid released into interstitial space
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6
Q

What factor influences autolysis?

A

Temperature

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7
Q

How does autolysis allow putrefaction to start?

A

By creating an anaerobic environment due to carbohydrate release

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8
Q

In putrefaction, what is soft tissue broken down into? By what?

A
  1. gases, liquids and salts
  2. Anaerobic bacterial activity
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9
Q

What is the result of diagenesis?

A

Loss of organic components
Dissolution of mineral compounds

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10
Q

What does bacteria continue to do after decomposition slows after skeletonisation?

A

Remove collagen from bone

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11
Q

At what point does bone diagenesis stop?

A

When chemical equilibrium is met between soil/water and the bone

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12
Q

What factors affect the rate of diagenesis cessation?

A

Environment
Time

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13
Q

List the signs of putrefaction.

A
  1. Discolouration
  2. Dissolution
  3. Distension
  4. Degradation
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14
Q

List biotic factors of decomposition.

A
  1. Animal scavenging
  2. Insect activity
  3. Human interaction/intervention
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15
Q

What areas of a body are insects most drawn to?

A

Orifices and eyes

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16
Q

What is the impact on decomposition when the number of larvae present increase?

A

Rate of decomposition increases

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17
Q

How does animal scavenging both increase and decrease decomposition rate?

A

Increase: Feed on remains
Decrease: Feed on insects

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18
Q

What is the main characteristic of rodent gnawing on bone?

A

Parallel sets of striations

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19
Q

What areas are targeted by rodents?

A

Distal extremities and soft areas of the face

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20
Q

What is the typical order of body areas scavenged?

A
  1. Face and neck
  2. Thorax (heart and lungs)
  3. Upper extremities
  4. Lower extremities
  5. Trunk
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21
Q

What are the abiotic components associated with climate?

A
  • Heat
  • Cold
  • Wind
22
Q

What are the abiotic components associated with habitat?

A
  • Soil
  • Water
  • Sand
23
Q

As temperature decreases, what would you expect to happen to decomposition?

A

Decreased reaction rate so decreased decomposition rate

24
Q

What can affect the temperature of human remains?

A
  1. Larval mass
  2. Clothing
  3. Wrappings
  4. Time since death
25
Q

What would you expect in both low and high temperatures when the humidity is high?

A

Low: Slowing of decomposition
High: Rapid increase in decomposition

26
Q

What would you expect in both low and high temperatures when the humidity is low?

A

Low: Arrest ( freeze drying)
High: Arrest (dehydration/mummification)

27
Q

How does rainfall or a body of water slow decomposition?

A

Production of adipocere

28
Q

Other than slowing decompostion, how else does rainfall impact remains?

A

Acts as a means of transport or depostion

29
Q

What factors can move remains or change their position?

A

Snow
Water
Gravity

30
Q

List the ground substrates in order of most draining to least:
Clay soil
Sandy soil
Organic soil
Sand
Clay

A
  1. Sand
  2. Sandy soil
  3. Organic soil
    4.Clay soil
  4. Clay
31
Q

Name the mortices in order of when they happen.

A
  1. Livor mortis
  2. Algor mortis
  3. Rigor mortis
32
Q

Briefly describe what happens in livor mortis.

A

Settling of blood cells due to gravity, causing coagulation of blood

33
Q

How can livor mortis be used in a forensic investigation?

A

Blood fixing can indicate positioning as well as objects around remains

34
Q

Briefly describe what happens in algor mortis.

A

Change in temperature to match the temperature of the environment

35
Q

True or False: The body cools by about 1 degree Celsius per hour for the first 24 hours.

A

False, 1 degree Celsius per hour for the first 12 hours

36
Q

What impacts the rate of algor mortis?

A

Temperature gradient between environment and body

37
Q

Briefly describe what happens in rigor mortis.

A

Gradual stiffening of muscles

38
Q

Why does rigor mortis happen?

A

Muscle contractions caused by a build up of ATP

39
Q

What is marbling?

A

Progressive discolouration of the body with dark tracks

40
Q

What causes marbling?

A

Progress of sulfhaemoglobin through the vascular system

41
Q

Where is marbling typically first observed and what does it usually accompany?

A
  1. Upper right quadrant of abdominal region (by gallbladder)
  2. Start of abdominal bloating
42
Q

What is skin blistering a result of?

A

Separation of outer layers of epidermis from underlying skin layers

43
Q

What is the name of the process of blistered skin sloughing off?

A

Degloving

44
Q

What causes bloating of cavities?

A

Production of decompositional gases

45
Q

Name 2 examples of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

A
  1. Putrescine
  2. Cadaverine
46
Q

What is saponification?

A

Process of adipocere formation from body fat hydrolysis

47
Q

True or False: Saponification forms an anaerobic environment on the soft tissue of remains.

A

True

48
Q

When is saponification observed?

A

In remains that are exposed to bodies of water after a period of time

49
Q

How does mummification reduce/arrest decomposition rate?

A

Removes water access for bacteria

50
Q

How does freezing reduce/arrest decomposition rate?

A

Dries tissue, resulting in tissue preservation

Taphonomy, Trauma and Skeletal Biomechanics (4 decks)

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