Injury and Post Mortem

Question 1

Name the three layers of the skin.

Answer 1

Epidermis
Dermis
Subcutaneous fat

Question 2

Give three examples of blunt force injuries.

Answer 2

Abrasion
Laceration
Bruising

Question 3

What is another word for bruising?

Answer 3

Contrusions

Question 4

Describe abrasion.

Answer 4

Superficial.
Injury to skin surface.
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Question 5

Give examples of abrasion.

Answer 5

Scratch or graze.

Question 6

Laceration is deeper than abrasion.
What layer of the skin can it go down until?

Answer 6

Subcutaneous fat.

Question 7

Give some examples of laceration.

Answer 7

Cuts, tears or split of the skin.

Question 8

What is bruising?

Answer 8

Bleeding outside of the blood vessel.

Question 9

What is important to notes about the size of bruising?

Answer 9

Size of bruise does not reflect the severity of impact.

Question 10

What is sharp force?

Answer 10

Injury caused by a sharp object, like a knife.

Question 11

Discuss how laceration can impact tissues.

Answer 11

Tissue bridging in laceration.

Question 12

Discuss how incision can impact tissues.

Answer 12

Clean division of tissue in incision.

Question 13

Name the three early changes seen in post mortems.

Answer 13

Algor mortis, livor mortis, rigor mortis.

Question 14

Name the five later changes seen in post mortems.

Answer 14

Autolysis, putrefaction. mummification, adipocere and skeletisation.

Question 15

Simply describe what algor mortis is.

Answer 15

Cooling of the body

Question 16

Simply describe what livor mortis is.

Answer 16

Pinkish/purple discolouration of the skin.

Question 17

Simply describe what rigor mortis is.

Answer 17

Stiffening of the body.

Question 18

What early change can be unreliable or misleading?

Answer 18

Algor mortis.

Question 19

Name some factors which can impact algor mortis.

Answer 19

Body size
Environmental temperature
Clothing

Question 20

What causes the pooling of blood post mortem?

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Define autolysis.

Answer 21

Enzymatic breakdown of cells/ tissues.

Question 22

Define putrefaction.

Answer 22

Bacterial breakdown of soft tissues.

Question 23

What temperature range is optimal for putrefaction?

Answer 23

20-38 degrees Celsius.

Question 24

What does mummification involve?

Answer 24

Desiccation of soft tissues.

Question 25

What kind of conditions does mummification require?

Answer 25

Cool, dry conditions.

Question 26

What is adipocere?

Answer 26

Saponification of soft tissues.

Question 27

What kind of conditions does adipocere require?

Answer 27

Wet conditions.