MEDICOLEGAL ASPECTS OF DEATH / SEX CRIME

Question 1

It is the termination of life.

Answer 1

Death

Question 2

It is the complete cessation of all the vital functions without possibility of resuscitation.

Answer 2

Death

Question 3

It is an irreversible loss of the properties of living matter.

Answer 3

Death

Question 4

Kinds of Death

Answer 4

Somatic Death or Clinical Death
Molecular or Cellular Death
Apparent Death or State of Suspended Animation

Question 5

This is the state of the body in which there is complete, persistent and continuous cessation of the vital functions of the brain, heart and lungs which maintain life and health.

Answer 5

Somatic Death or Clinical Death

Question 6

After cessation of the vital functions of the body there is still animal life among individual cells. After somatic death occurs there is death of all individual cells like nerve and brain cells within the body.
This is known as molecular or cellular death

Answer 6

Molecular or Cellular Death

Question 7

This condition is not really death but merely a transient loss of the vital functions of the body on account of disease, external stimulus, or other forms of influence

Answer 7

Apparent Death or State of Suspended Animation

Question 8

Somatic or Clinical Types of Death

Answer 8

Sociological Death
Psychic Death
Biologic Death
Physiologic Death

Question 9

Type of death wherein withdrawal and separation from the patient by others
producing a sense of isolation and abandonment, unvisited and let alone to die.

Answer 9

Sociological Death

Question 10

Condition of death wherein the patient regresses, gives up or surrenders accepting
death prematurely and refuses to continue living.

Answer 10

Psychic Death

Question 11

Type of death characterized by the absence of cognitive function or awareness,
although artificial support system may maintain organs functioning.

Answer 11

Biologic Death

Question 12

Type of death when all vital organs cease to function. (Leal, 2014 & Lagonera,
2010)

Answer 12

Physiologic Death

Question 13

Methods of Detecting the Cessation of Heart Action and Circulation
Examination of the Heart

Answer 13

Palpation of the Pulse
Auscultation for the Heart Sound at the Precordial Area
Fluoroscopic Examination
By the Use of Electrocardiograph

Question 14

Pulsation of the peripheral blood vessels may be made at the region of
the wrist or at the neck. The pulsation of the vessels is synchronous with the heartbeat. Occasionally
the pulsation is very imperceptible and irregular that the examiner experiences much difficulty

Answer 14

Palpation of the Pulse

Question 15

The rhythmic contraction and
relaxation of the heart is audible through the stethoscope. Heart sound can be audible during life even
without the aid of a stethoscope by placing the ear at the precordial area.

Answer 15

Auscultation for the Heart Sound at the Precordial Area

Question 16

reveal the shadow of the heart in its rhythmic contraction and
relaxation. The shadow may be enlarged, and the excursion made less visible due to pericardial
effusion.

Answer 16

Fluoroscopic Examination

Question 17

The heartbeat is accompanied by the passage of electrical charge through the impulse conducting system of the heart which may be recorded in an electrocardiograph machine.

Answer 17

By the Use of Electrocardiograph

Question 18

Examination of the Peripheral Circulation

Answer 18

Magnus’ Test
Opening of Small Artery
Icard’s Test
Pressure on the Fingernails
Diaphanous Test
Application of Heat on the Skin
Palpation of the Radial Pulse with Fingers

Question 19

• Living: will feel the rhythmic pulsation of the vessel due to the flow of blood.
• Dead: No such pulsation will be observed

Answer 19

Palpation of the Radial Pulse with Fingers

Question 20

If heated material is applied on the skin in the living person, there will be blister formation,
congestion, and other vital reactions of the injured area will be observed.
• Dead: will not produce true blister, no sign of congestion, or other vital reactions

Answer 20

Application of Heat on the Skin

Question 21

• The fingers are spread wide and the finger webs are viewed through a strong light.
• Living: the finger webs appear red
• Dead: yellow

Answer 21

Diaphanous Test

Question 22

lf pressure is applied on the fingernails of a living person intermittently, there will be a zone of
paleness at the site of the application of pressure which become livid on release.

Answer 22

Pressure on the Fingernails

Question 23

This consists of the injection of a solution of fluorescein subcutaneously.
• If circulation is still present, the dye will spread all over the body and the whole skin will have a gleenish-yellow discoloration due to flourescein.

Answer 23

Icard’s Test

Question 24

Living: the blood escapes in jerk and at a distance.
• Dead: the blood vessel is white and there is no jerking escape of blood but may only ooze towards
the nearby skin.

Answer 24

Opening of Small Artery

Question 25

A ligature is applied around the base of a finger with moderate tightness. • In a living person there appears a bloodless zone at the site of the application of the ligature and a livid area distal to the ligature. • If the ligature is applied to the finger of a dead man, there is no such change in color.

Answer 25

Magnus’ Test

Question 26

Like heart action, cessation of respiration in order to be considered as a sign of death must be continuous and persistent. A person can hold his breath for a period not longer than 3-1/2 minutes. In case of electrical shock, respiration may cease for sometimes but may be restored by continuous artificial respiration.

Answer 26

Stoppage of Respiration

Question 27

Methods of Detecting Cessation of Respiration

Answer 27

Mirror Test Examination with a Feather or Cotton Fiber Examination with a Glass of Water Winslow's Test

Question 28

The surface of a cold-looking glass is held in front of the mouth and nostrils. If there is dimming of the mirror after a time, there is still respiration.

Answer 28

Mirror Test

Question 29

Place a fine feather or a strip of cotton in front of the lips and nostrils. If there is movement of the feather or cotton not due to external air, respiration is present.

Answer 29

Examination with a Feather or Cotton Fiber

Question 30

Place a glass half full of water at the region of the chest. If the surface of the water is smooth and stable, there is no respiration taking place, but if it waves or water movement is observed, then respiration is taking place.

Answer 30

Examination with a Glass of Water

Question 31

There is no movement of the image formed by reflecting artificial or sun light on the water or mercury contained in a saucer and placed on the chest or abdomen if respiration is not taking place. The reflection is utilized to magnify the / movement of the surface of mercury or water.

Answer 31

Winslow's Test

Question 32

The progressive fall of the body temperature is one of the most prominent signs of death. After death, the metabolic process inside the body ceases.

Answer 32

Algor Mortis or Cooling of the Body

Question 33

The normal body temperature in a living person is ___________ but upon death, the temperature gradually decrease

Answer 33

37°C or 98.3°F

Question 34

The fall of temperature of ________is considered as a certain sign of death

Answer 34

15 to 20°F

Question 35

After death, there is complete relaxation of the whole muscular system. The entire muscular system is contractile for three to six hours after death, and later rigidity sets in. Secondary relaxation of the muscles will appear just when decomposition has set in.

Answer 35

Changes in the Muscle

Question 36

The Entire Muscular Tissue Passes Three Stages After Death, namely;

Answer 36

Stage of Primary Flaccidity ((post-mortem muscular irritability) Stage of post-mortem rigidity Stage of Secondary Flaccidity or Secondary Relaxation

Question 37

A muscular change characterized by the softness and flaccidity of the muscles in which no longer responses to electrical or mechanical stimuli due to dissolution of the muscle protein that have been previously coagulated during the stage of rigor mortis. This stage is onset of putrefaction (

Answer 37

Stage of Secondary Flaccidity or Secondary Relaxation

Question 38

It is the stiffening of the muscle of the body after death due to chemical changes within the muscle tissue itself.

Answer 38

Stage of post-mortem rigidity

Question 39

It is the stage of muscular change upon death characterized the relaxation of muscles and loss of their natural tone, so the jaw or head drops down, the thorax collapses and the limbs becomes flaccid and the splinters relax

Answer 39

Stage of Primary Flaccidity ((post-mortem muscular irritability)

Question 40

Conditions Simulating Rigor Mortis

Answer 40

Heat Stiffening Cold Stiffening Cadaveric Spasm or Instantaneous Rigor

Question 41

It is the instant stiffening of a certain group of muscles which occurs immediately at the moment of death, although its cause is unknown, it is associated with violent death due to extreme nervous tension and injury to the central nervous system

Answer 41

Cadaveric Spasm or Instantaneous Rigor

Question 42

A condition characterized by hardening of the muscles due to coagulation of muscle proteins when the dead body is exposed to intense heat as by burning or immersion in a hot liquid. Heat stiffening is commonly observed when the body of a person is placed in boiling fluid or when the body is burned to death.

Answer 42

Heat Stiffening

Question 43

The stiffening of the body may be manifested when the body is frozen, but exposure to warm condition will make such stiffening disappear. The cold stiffening is due to the solidification of fat when the body is exposed to freezing temperature.

Answer 43

Cold Stiffening

Question 44

It is a purplish discoloration of the body that occurs on those parts of the body which are nearest the floor. This discoloration is caused by the settling of the blood by gravity into those areas. During life the blood is under pressure and circulating. After death, the pressure falls to zero and the blood begins to settle by gravity so that no matter what the position the body may be in those positions of the body which are lowest will be the areas the blood will settle.

Answer 44

Post-mortem Lividity

Question 45

Types of Post Mortem Lividity

Answer 45

Hypostatic Lividit Diffusion Lividity

Question 46

This appears during the later stage of its formation when the blood has coagulated inside the blood vessels or has diffused into the tissues of the body. Any change of position will not change the location of the lividity.

Answer 46

Diffusion Lividity

Question 47

The blood merely gravitates into the most dependent portions of the body but still inside the blood vessels and still fluid in form. Any change of position of the body leads to the formation of the lividity in another place. This occurs during the early stage of its formation.

Answer 47

Hypostatic Lividity