Module 4

Question 1

The pathologic death of body cells as a result of disease processes (eg., gangrene or decubitus ulcers)

Answer 1

Necrosis

Question 2

The physiologic, or natural, death of cells as they complete their life cycle

Answer 2

Necrobiosis

Question 3

A cooling or decrease of the body temperature prior to death

Answer 3

Agonal algor

Question 4

An increase of the body temperature just prior to death

Answer 4

Agonal fever

Question 5

The settling of blood into the dependent tissues of the body

Answer 5

Agonal hypostasis

Question 6

Increases in tissue moisture in areas of hypostatsis causing edema; or decrease in moisture in tissues and body cavities causing dehydration

Answer 6

Agonal moisture change

Question 7

The movement of microorganisms from one area of the body to another

Answer 7

Translocation

Question 8

Clostridium perfringens produces anaerobic bacillus and within 1-2 hours of death it can be present in tissues and distend the tissues causing problems with embalming

Answer 8

Tissue gas

Question 9

The postmortem cooling of the body

Answer 9

Algor mortis

Question 10

A process by which blood settles, as a result of gravitational movement within the vessels, to the dependent, or lower parts of the body

Answer 10

Hypostasis

Question 11

The thickness of a liquid; after death blood increases in viscosity and thickens

Answer 11

Viscosity

Question 12

The settling of blood that brings about discoloration that appears within 1/2 to 2 hours after death; postmortem intravascular blood discoloration that occurs as result of hypostasis

Answer 12

Livor mortis

Question 13

The loss of water from body tissues and fluids by surface evaporation

Answer 13

Dehydration

Question 14

After death, the cells may still have a supply of oxygen, therefore, metabolism will continue. This creates heat and may be responsible for this elevated postmortem temperature

Answer 14

Postmortem caloricity

Question 15

The extravascular blood discoloration brought about by the hemolysis of blood; pooling of blood in the dependent areas called livor mortis

Answer 15

Postmortem stain

Question 16

The postmortem stiffening of muscles by natural processes; typically seen 2-4 hours after death

Answer 16

Rigor mortis

Question 17

The process where the cells’ own digestive enzymes are released, and they digest the surrounding cellular material; self-decomposition; produces amino acids, sugars, fatty acids and glycerol

Answer 17

Autolysis

Question 18

The single most important factor in the initiation of decomposition. A chemical reaction in which the chemical bonds of the substance are split by the addition or taking up of water

Answer 18

Hydrolysis

Question 19

Hydrolysis of proteins

Answer 19

Proteolysis

Question 20

Protein decomposition

Answer 20

Putrefaction

Question 21

Decomposition of proteins by aerobic bacteria (need oxygen to live)

Answer 21

Decay

Question 22

Skin slip; The outer layers of the skin weaken because the deeper skin layers are undergoing autolysis.

Answer 22

Desquamation