Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Governing Decomposition Flashcards
- Age
- Sex
- Corpulence
- Cause and manner of death
- Bacterial and parasitic activity
- Pharmaceutical agents
Intrinsic Factors
- Air
- Moisture
- Temperature
- Bacterial and parasitic activity
- Pressure due to earth or clothing
- Vermin including maggots, lice, and rats
Extrinsic Factors
Decompose very slowly because of the absence of intestinal flora.
Age: Stillborn Infants (Intrinsic)
Which have lived long enough to be fed or have breathed will decompose rapidly because of an abundance of intestinal flora.
Age: Infants (Intrinsic)
Because of a lack of mositure and dehydration, will generally decompose at a much slower rate.
Age: An Aged Person (Intrinsic)
So called healthy individual with a high moisture content and high quantity of bacteria in the gastro-intestinal tract, will usually decompose rapidly.
Age: A Middle Aged Person (Intrinsic)
Certain diseases and conditions common to one sex or the other may have a marked influence on the rate of putrefaction.
Sex (Intrinsic)
A higher moisture content and greater amount of subcutaneous fat usually brings on putrefaction at a much greater rate.
Sex: Female (Intrinsic)
Postpartum hemorrhage, death in childbirth, may also caused a rapid onset of putrefaction.
Sex: Female (Intrinsic)
Obese persons decompose more rapidly than thin ones largely because of the higher moisture content and the greater retention of body heat.
- After Death, postmortem caloricity encourages putrefaction.
Corpulence (state of nutrition)
(Intrinsic)
Moisture is essential for bacterial growth. Putrefaction is accelerated when the tissues are edematous, as in death from congestive heart failure.
- Putrefaction is delayed when the tissues are dehydrated as in death preceded by severe vomiting and diarrhea.
Corpulence: State of hydration of the tissues (Intrinsic)
Optimum temperature for the growth of bacteria causing decomposition is 100oF. Postmortem caloricity encourages putrefaction.
- A rapid onset of algor mortis however, will slow down the putrefactive process.
Corpulence: Body Heat (Intrinsic)
Can either increase or alter the rate of putrefaction.
- Example: Any emaciation producing disease causing dehydration, such as febrile diseases, will retard putrefaction.
Cause and Manner of Death (Intrinsic)
The amount of organisms accumulated within the body (especially the intestinal tract, body tissues, and fluids as a result of infection) will hasten the putrefactive process, particularly if the count is high at the time of death. (septic conditions)
Bacterial and Parasitic Activity: Anaerobic Bacteria (Intrinsic)
The decomposition is primarily due to the enzymes produced by the bacteria.
Bacterial and Parasitic Activity: Parasitic Activity (Intrinsic)