Pathology

Question 1

Define the terms ‘Exhumation’ and ‘Embalming’

Answer 1

EXHUMATION - digging and removing a buried body when questions about cause/manner of death rise

EMBALMING - process of chemically treating a dead body to reduce the presence and growth of micro-organisms

Question 2

What are the 4 stages of decomposition?

Answer 2

1. Fresh
2. Bloated - gaseous
3. Decay - wet, mushy or liquid
4. Dry

Question 3

What are the 2 types of body decomposition?

Answer 3

AUTOLYSIS - disintegration of the body by enzymes released by dying cells

PUTREFACTION - disintegration of the body by the action of micro-organisms (ie. bacteria)

Question 4

What are the 2 types of thermal trauma?

Answer 4

HYPOTHERMIA - exposure to extreme cold resulting in death

HYPERTHERMIA - exposure to extreme heat resulting in death

Question 5

Define the term ‘Chemical trauma’

Answer 5

Damage and death resulting from the interaction of chemicals with the human body

Question 6

What are the 5 types of mechanical trauma?

Answer 6

SHARP FORCE - injuries cause by sharp objects that require less force, creating incised wounds with more depth than length or width

BLUNT FORCE - injuries cause by dull objects producing lacerations or tears

EXANGUINATION - death resulting in a fatal loss of blood

CONTUSION - accumulation of blood in the tissue out of the normal blood vessel (hematoma = extreme contusion)

ASPHYXIA - body is deprived of oxygen via suffocation/strangulation/chemical asphyxiation (CO poisoning)

Question 7

Define the term ‘Mechanical trauma’

Answer 7

When force applied to a tissue exceeds mechanical or tensile strength of that tissue (ie. sharp or blunt force trauma)

Question 8

Define the term ‘Cause of death’

Answer 8

Refers to the official determination of conditions/diseases resulting in a persons death

Question 9

Define the term ‘Manner of death’

Answer 9

The way in which the cause of death came to be = homicide/suicide/accidental/natural

Question 10

Define the terms ‘Rigor Mortis’, ‘Livor mortis’ and ‘Algor mortis’

Answer 10

RIGOR - stiffening of the body post death due to membranes of muscle cells becoming more permeable to calcium ions causing rigidity

LIVOR - settling of blood due to gravity after the heart stops pumping = purplish/blue discolouration

ALGOR - cooling of the body after death influenced by environmental temperature and protection of the body

Question 11

Define and identify the causes of Petechiae

Answer 11

Pinpoint haemorrhages around the eyes, mouth and throat

- brought about by strangulation or asphyxiation

Question 12

Define the terms ‘ligatures’ and ‘smears’

Answer 12

LIGATURES - electrical cords, ropes or duct tape used to bind a victim

SMEARS - collected fluid wiped across a microscope slide examining for the presence of spermatozoa

Question 13

Describe how the Post-mortem Interval is calculated

Answer 13

• changes in the body upon external examination
  
  1. Algor Morris = degrees of cooling per hour
  2. Blood settling in inner eye
     - eye open = thin film immediately and clouds over in 2-3hrs
     - eye closed = delayed thin film and clouds after 24hrs
  3. Stomach content = known rate of digestion