Injury and Post Mortem Flashcards
Name the three layers of the skin.
Epidermis
Dermis
Subcutaneous fat
Give three examples of blunt force injuries.
Abrasion
Laceration
Bruising
What is another word for bruising?
Contrusions
Describe abrasion.
Superficial.
Injury to skin surface.
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Give examples of abrasion.
Scratch or graze.
Laceration is deeper than abrasion.
What layer of the skin can it go down until?
Subcutaneous fat.
Give some examples of laceration.
Cuts, tears or split of the skin.
What is bruising?
Bleeding outside of the blood vessel.
What is important to notes about the size of bruising?
Size of bruise does not reflect the severity of impact.
What is sharp force?
Injury caused by a sharp object, like a knife.
Discuss how laceration can impact tissues.
Tissue bridging in laceration.
Discuss how incision can impact tissues.
Clean division of tissue in incision.
Name the three early changes seen in post mortems.
Algor mortis, livor mortis, rigor mortis.
Name the five later changes seen in post mortems.
Autolysis, putrefaction. mummification, adipocere and skeletisation.
Simply describe what algor mortis is.
Cooling of the body
Simply describe what livor mortis is.
Pinkish/purple discolouration of the skin.
Simply describe what rigor mortis is.
Stiffening of the body.
What early change can be unreliable or misleading?
Algor mortis.
Name some factors which can impact algor mortis.
Body size
Environmental temperature
Clothing
What causes the pooling of blood post mortem?
Gravitational pull.
For example, if an individual died by hanging, blood will pool at the hands and feet. If they die while lying on their back, blood will pool at the buttocks, scapula region etc.
Define autolysis.
Enzymatic breakdown of cells/ tissues.
Define putrefaction.
Bacterial breakdown of soft tissues.
What temperature range is optimal for putrefaction?
20-38 degrees Celsius.
What does mummification involve?
Desiccation of soft tissues.
What kind of conditions does mummification require?
Cool, dry conditions.
What is adipocere?
Saponification of soft tissues.
What kind of conditions does adipocere require?
Wet conditions.
