POST MORTEM ARTIFACTS

Question 1

= removal of organs (esp eyes, tongue, rectum) of
carcass by carrion eating animals (e.g., dogs, coyotes, ravens, vultures, etc).

Answer 1

Postmortem Scavenging vs Predation
▪ postmortem scavenging

Question 2

▪ is the rigidity or stiffening of muscles after death due to contraction of muscle
fibers as ATPs are depleted or exhausted.

Answer 2

Rigor Mortis

Question 3

▪ gradual cooling of the body after death.

Answer 3

Algor Mortis

Question 4

▪ gravitational pooling/settling of blood to the dependant regions (“down side”)
of the body. In this instance, you will know the position of the individual when it
was dead.

Answer 4

Livor Mortis (hypostatic congestion)

Question 5

▪ occurs in heart and vessels.
▪ rbc’s may separate from plasma (esp in animals with high fibrinogen levels, eg
horses) = “chicken fat clot”

Answer 5

Postmortem Clotting

Question 6

▪ HgB released by rbc breakdown (after death) → staining tissues.
▪ especially lining of heart and blood vessels; also common in tissues of aborted
fetuses and frozen tissues.

Answer 6

Hemoglobin Imbibition

Question 7

▪ leakage of bile from gall bladder and major bile ducts which stains adjacent
tissues green to yellow.

Answer 7

Bile Imbibition

Question 8

▪ term used to describe an artifactual black discoloration of tissues (similar in an
appearance to melanosis).
▪ due to saprophytic/putrefactive bacterial production of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) +
iron → iron sulfide (FeS).

Answer 8

Pseudomelanosis

Question 9

▪ after death, decomposition of tissues begins by progressive release of
endogenous enzymes (autolysis) and more gradually by the action of
saprophytic bacteria (especially from gut).
▪ rate of progression dependent upon several factors, eg body temperature at
time of death; ambient temperature; size of body; amount of fat/hair/wool; cause
of death (eg bacterial infection, hyperthermia, etc).
▪ grossly the tissues become progressively paler (often mottled) and soft.

Answer 9

Postmortem autolysis / decomposition

Question 10

, refers to the enzymatic decomposition of organic material
(tissue) with production of foul-smelling compounds (eg H2S, NH3,
mercaptans), especially by saprophytic / putrefactive bacteria.

Answer 10

putrefaction (rotting)

Question 11

occurs when saprophytic bacteria produce gas,
causing gaseous distention of G-I tract, organs and body cavities.

Answer 11

postmortem emphysema

Question 12

▪ with swelling of viscera (due to postmortem emphysema)  rectal prolapse,
visceral dislocation, gastric rupture (horses), diaphragmatic hernia.

Answer 12

Postmortem Ruptures and Organ Displacements

Question 13

Other Abnormalities

Answer 13

▪ rib indentations on pulmonary pleura.
▪ pale discolored compressions on capsular surface of liver from distended
intestine loops and/or rib imprints.
▪ euthanasia with barbiturate → splenomegaly, accumulation of fluid and blood
in lung, froth in trachea.
▪ lens opacity in frozen carcasses