Necropsy Flashcards
learn the different terms, descriptions, and procedures involved in an animal necropsy
Viewing the dead can be defined as a (ex: alien looking at human)
necropsy
Seeing a deceased being with one’s own eyes is defined as an (ex: human looking at human)
autopsy
Why are necropsies performed?
determining cause of death, determining the disease processes that lead to death, determining the accuracy of the clinical diagnosis, evaluating the positive effects of therapeutic measures, for herd health
T/F: LVMT’s can perform a necropsy
true
T/F: you don’t need a signed consent from an owner before preforming the necropsy
False: you should ALWAYS have a signed consent (this procedure can’t be undone!)
T/F: you should freeze the patient’s body before necropsy
False: you should place the deceased animal in the refrigerator
Lesions are described/recorded by….
location, number, color, size, shape. distribution, consistency, odor
PPE used for necropsies
safety glasses, gloves, plastic disposable apron OR a reusable “butcher’s apron”
The person performing the necropsy is known as the
prosector
T/F: instruments used for necropsies can be autoclaved and later used in surgery
False: instruments for surgery should ONLY be used for surgery, and instruments for necropsies should ONLY be used for necropsies
What is used to fix tissues for histopathology?
10% formalin solution
The science of the study of disease, especially the causes and development of abnormal conditions
pathology
Sequence of events that leads to or underlies a disease
pathogenesis
Refers to pathologic changes in tissue that are viable with the unaided eye
gross pathology
In its normal space: confined to the site of origin
in situ
Alterations or abnormalities in a tissue (pathologic changes): for example, wounds, sores, ulcers, tumors, cataracts, and any other tissue damage
lesions
-death of cells which occurs after the death of the entire body
- makes interpretation of lesions challenging
post-mortem autolysis
Factors that affect onset of post-mortem change
cause of death, environmental temp, body temp at time of death, microbial flora present in the body
Microbial flora breakdown tissues which result in color change, gas production, texture changes, and odor
putrefaction (post-mortem decomposition)
Common post-mortem changes
bloody nasal discharge, clear nasal discharge, rectal/vaginal prolapse, lymph nodes in young animals may be enlarged, bloating, ruminal mucosal sloughing, post-mortem cataracts, post-mortem blood clotting, rigor mortis, liver mortis, post-mortem intussusception
stiffening of the joints and muscles of a body a few hours after death
rigor mortis
dark purple discoloration of the skin due to blood pooling in the dependent parts of the body after death
livor mortis
Blue-green discoloration of the tissues ; true post-mortem change
pseudomelanosis
Red staining of tissues due to breakdown of vessel walls and lysis of RBC’s due to autolysis
hemoglobin imbibition
As autolysis of the tissues continue bile leaks from the gall bladder causing the surrounding tissues to stain yellow/greenish-brown
bile imbibition (pseudoicterus)
Clouding of the lens of the eye when the carcass is frozen or chilled after death
post-mortem cataracts
Clotted blood pooling after death in which the heavier RBC’s settle to the bottom and the yellow serum settle on the top
chicken fat clot
Causes of death without apparent post-mortem signs
allergic reactions, anesthetic deaths, IV therapy, shock/heart attack, fetal death, electrocution
Poisonings without apparent post-mortem signs
botulism, cyanide, carbon monoxide, tetanus, propylene glycol, organophosphate
Describing a lesion: organ/structure, proximal/distal, right/left, superficial/deep
location
Describing a lesion: metric measurements
size/volume
Describing a lesion: round, oval, linear, irregular, elliptical, rhomboid
shape
Describing a lesion: granular, smooth, rough
texture
Describing a lesion: watery, firm, hard, flatulent
consistency
Describing a lesion: solid, cystic
appearance on cut surfaces
Describing a lesion: fetid, sweet, rotten, acrid
odor
Distribution patterns
focal, focally extensive, multifocal, multifocal coalescing, disseminated, diffuse, segmental
Distribution pattern: Focally Extensive
the single lesion takes up 10% of the tissue
Distribution pattern: Multifocal
multiple lesions. measure the largest and smallest lesions, this allows for range
Distribution pattern: Multifocal Coalescing
multiple spots and lesions and some start to overlap
Distribution patterns: Disseminated
not all tissue is abnormal, but there is abnormal tissue everywhere
Distribution patterns: Segmental
only used when describing tubular lesions (shaped like a tube) “a chunk of the trachea is abnormal”
A bright red, sharp margin between effected tissue and healthy tissue
hemorrhage
T/F: hemorrhage and hemolysis are the same because they are both a loss of blood
False: hemolysis is destruction of RBC’s & hemorrhage is whole blood being lost from the vessels
Small, pinpoint hemorrhage
petechiae
When there is hemorrhage present withing the eye
Hyphema
passage of fresh, bright red blood from the rectum
Hematochezia
black, tarry stools; feces containing digested blood
Melena
Types of fluid: Serous Inflammation
a clear to yellow tinged fluid, very watery, mainly composed of plasma or serum (think fluid on a burn blister)
Types of fluid: Purulent Discharge
primarily composed of puss, usually white to cream colored
Hemorrhagic (hemopericardium)
blood in the pericardial sac
Serosanguinous fluid
Blood + serum
Yellow in color w/ some appearance of blood
Ulceration
epidermis and some of the underlying dermis has been lost
What is the first organ that should be dissected during a necropsy?
the eyes, the retina will decompose rapidly after death
T/F: small animal & pig necropsies should be done in right lateral
False: small animal necropsies should be done in left lateral
T/F: ruminants should be laid down on their left side for a necropsy
true
What is the preferred method for a horse necropsy?
the horse should be in left lateral recumbency
T/F: a fetal necropsy should be done in left lateral recumbency
False: a fetal necropsy is done in right lateral
What position are avian necropsies performed in?
avians are done in dorsal recumbency, unless it is a small bird then the whole bird may be submitted
