Post Mortem Change Flashcards
Lesions
Changes due to the disease
Agonal change
Changes that occur prior to death
Post Mortem change
Changes occurring after death and before the cadaver is examined
Causes of post mortem change
Autolysis and putrefaction
Autolysis
Action of the intrinsic enzyme system of the dead animal’s cells that result in self digestion
Putrefaction
Degradation of tissue by invasion and post mortem activity of certain microorganisms
Rigor Mortis
Contraction of muscles after death
Algor Mortis
Cooling of carcass after death
Dead less than 3 hours
Warm and flaccid
Dead 3-8 hours
Warm and stiff
Dead 8-36 hours
Cold and stiff
Dead over 36 hours
Cold and flaccid
Livor Mortis
Hypostatic Congestion
Imbibition
The absorption of one substance into another
Imbibition of blood
Most common obscurer to post mortem examinations
Jaundice
Icterus
Pallor
Pale discoloration
Another way to say Autolysis
Auto Digestion
What causes putrefaction
Anaerobic bacteria of the clostridia group
Hydrogen sulfide in putrefication
Responsible for the odd color and smell
Ferrous sulfide in putrefaction
Responsible for the green and black pseudomelanosis of the tissue
