Lec 9: Autopsy

Question 1

It is a medical procedure involving the examination of a dead body.

Answer 1

Autopsy

Question 2

Autopsy
1. Other terms
2. In the Philippines, autopsy is performed by whom?
3. Autopsia means ___.

Answer 2

1. Obduction / post-mortem examination
2. Pathologist and Medical doctors who have received specialty in training
3. “To see with one’s own eyes”

Question 3

The usual classifications of death

Answer 3

• natural
• accident
• suicide
• homicide
• undetermined

Question 4

Usual Classifications of Death
1. Died of old age
2. Killing of one person by another
3. The 8 most common accidents

Answer 4

1. Natural
2. Homicide
3. 8 most common accidents
   • falling objects
   • trips & bruises
   • sprains
   • cuts
   • burns
   • choking
   • poisoning
   • secondary to motor vehicular accidents

Question 5

A specialized form of autopsy with legal implications that are performed to determine if a given death was an accident homicide suicide or a natural event

Answer 5

Forensic autopsy

Question 6

Reasons for performing autopsies (7)

Answer 6

• to determine the cause of death
• to ascertain whether clinical diagnosis are correct
• to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment
• to gain information for the family about possible genetic conditions
• for teaching and/or research purposes
• to aid in criminal investigations and wrongful death
• to provide closure and reassurance for family members who have questions about diagnosis and treatment

Question 7

1. An autopsy is ordered by a _____ if there are suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.
2. [TRUE or FALSE] coroners or medical examiners must give consent for an autopsy before proceeding.
3. What is an anatomic pathologist?
4. [TRUE or FALSE] Verbal consent is considered
5. [TRUE or FALSE] normally, a decedent’s body is the property of the next of kin

Answer 7

1. Coroner / medical examiner
2. FALSE: relatives of the deceased
3. They deal with biopsies and autopsies
4. FALSE
5. TRUE

Question 8

1. The deceased person’s next of kin (in order)
2. [TRUE or FALSE] The relatives providing consent DO NOT have the right to limit the scope of the autopsy.
3. Who should perform the autopsy?

Answer 8

1. • Spouse
   • children
   • parents
   • siblings
   • nearest relative
   • guardian
   • executor of the state
2. FALSE
3. • certified Anatomic pathologist
   • medical doctor receiving specialty in training
   • physician responsible to such person

Question 9

Cases that ALWAYS REQUIRE an Autopsy (11)

Answer 9

• Fire deaths
• homicide
• apparent suicide
• drivers in single car accidents
• occupational related deaths
• natural disease
• civil litigation
• death in official custody
• sudden unexpected death of children
• pilots in aircraft crashes
• unwitnessed accidents

Question 10

Most standard autopsies consist of an examination of the ___.

Answer 10

• chest cavity
• abdominal cavity
• cranial cavity (& brain)

Question 11

How is the incision done on the chest and abdomen?

Answer 11

Make a Y or U-shaped incision beginning at the shoulders that meet the sternum and continuous vertically down to pubic bone

Question 12

How is the incision done on the cranial cavity?

Answer 12

Incision is made at the back of the skull, eat to ear

Question 13

A type of autopsy wherein a medical condition involves the brain or spinal cord

Answer 13

Complete autopsy

Question 14

A type of autopsy where in a medical condition involves the brain or spinal cord

Answer 14

Complete autopsy

Question 15

A type of autopsy that includes organs of the chest and abdominal cavity all the way to the pubic area

Answer 15

Incomplete autopsy

Question 16

The post-mortem loss of heat from the body

Answer 16

Algor mortis

Question 17

External examination of the body

1. After 1 hour, the body cools ___ per hour
2. After 12 hours, the body loses ___ per hour until it reaches ___.

Answer 17

1. 0.78°C or 1.4°F
2. a. 0.39°C or 0.7°F
   b. the same temperature of the surroundings

Question 18

The post-mortem discoloration caused by the settling of blood to the lowest parts of the body.

Answer 18

Livor mortis

Question 19

It is the development of a reddish purple color to the skin due to the pooling of blood as a result of gravity

Answer 19

Livor mortis

Question 20

Lividity begins about ___ hours after death and becomes fixed after approximately ___ hours.

After ___ hours lividity remains if the skin is pressed.

Answer 20

a. 2 hours
b. 6 hours
c. 8 hours

Question 21

How does the temperature affect lividity?

Answer 21

a. Higher temperature = increase lividity rate
b. Lower temperature = decrease lividity rate

Question 22

It is the post-mortem stiffening of the body musculature as the result of chemical changes in the dying muscles.

Answer 22

Rigor mortis

Question 23

Rigor mortis starts about ___ hours and reaches maximum stiffness after ___ hours and gradually dissipates until about ___ hours after death.

Answer 23

a. 3 to 4 hours
b. 12 hours
c. 48 to 60 hours

Question 24

What are included in the victim identification procedures?

Answer 24

• Fingerprints
• dental examination
• x-rays
• photographing victim

Question 25

The phase where we get a piece of the organ and mount it into a slide to observe the microscopic changes that occurred which led to death.

Answer 25

Internal examination of the body

Question 26

It is the paper trail of your documents from the time they leave your possession to when they are shredded and/or recycled

Answer 26

Chain of custody