Post Mortem Changes Flashcards
What is the difference between autolysis and degradation?
autolysis is due to a total diffuse hypoxia, degradation (decomposition) is due to bacteria breaking down tissues leads to color texture change gas production and odor.
Where will Autolysis occur quicker?
gall blader, liver, kidney, pancreas, and GI tract bc of proteolytic enzymes
autolysis in the liver can cause?
the liver to turn white.
a cool environment typically inhibits autolysis except in…
ruminants forestomach, equine cecum, and ascending colon.
if trying to access the GIT of animals esp herb. need to do so immediately cooling will not prevent degration and autolysis
How long does Rigor mortis last? when does it start?
begins 1-6 hours post death, persist 1-2 days
high heat and activity prior to death will accelerate onset
What type of animal will never experience rigor?
an animal that has anthrax.
take ear tip or tail tip do a smear to see if you find bacillus anthraxis
what is algor mortis
cooling of the body post mortem.
hole in skull T in the brain will decrease at a relatively straight line up to about 18hr post death.
What is Livor Mortis?
hypostatic congestion, gravity will pool blood post death will move to side that animal died on.
where there is pressure blood will not pool.
What does a post mortem clot look like?
Chicken fat, RBC’s goes down to bottom, clotted serum will be on the other side.
you should always see clots in the heart.
post mortem clots are?
unattached to vessel walls
shiny and wet, perfect cast of vessel lumina
Elastic Texture
pre mortem clots are?
Attached to vessel walls (arterial type)
Loosely attached to vessel walls (venous thrombi, may resemble post mortem clots)
Dry and duller (color), laminated
Friable texture
What is Hemoglobin imbibition?
red staining of tissues, esp the heart arteries and veins
longer an animal is dead the greater the imbibition.
What is bile imbibition?
Bilirubin from the gall bladder starts to penetrate the wall and stains the adjacent tissue
What is Tympany, how can you tell it from bloat?
Will see bloat line with tympany, compression of structures esophagus and trachea mild dysnemia. Will see white section next to red section.
What is pseudomelanosis?
refers to greenish- black discoloration of tissues post moretem.
discolorization only on outside layer.
