Post mortem changes

Question 1

How is age determined in foetus?

Answer 1

Bone development assessment using ossification centres

Question 2

How is age determined in children and teenagers?

Answer 2

Assessment of epiphyses

Question 3

How is age determined in adults?

Answer 3

Normally teeth

Question 4

How is height determined?

Answer 4

Individual bones of the lover limb most useful

Question 5

What medical information is used to determine identity?

Answer 5

History of gallstones, arthritis, deformities

Surgical procedures, tattoos

Question 6

What personal information can be used to determine identity?

Answer 6

Fingerprints
Dental records
DNA

Question 7

What is death?

Answer 7

Irreversible failure of the cardiovascular system

Question 8

What factors can be used to predict time of death?

Answer 8

Algor mortis- temperature
Liver mortis- blood pooling
Rigor mortis
Body decomposition

Question 9

What is used in the first 12 hours after death?

Answer 9

Algor mortis

Question 10

What factors can affect algor mortis?

Answer 10

Body temperature at time of death
Natural insulation of body
Is the body clothed
Convection current

Question 11

What is the rule of thumb when using body temperature to calculate time of death?

Answer 11

1 degree an hour

Question 12

What is rigour mortis?

Answer 12

Stiffening and shortening of the muscle fibres leading to rigidity

Question 13

What is rigour mortis caused by?

Answer 13

Reduction of ATP within the muscles

Question 14

When does rigour mortis become apparent and the fully established?

Answer 14

Apparent- 5-7 hours

Established- 8-12 hours

Question 15

When is rigour mortis absent by?

Answer 15

36 hours after death

Question 16

What factors affect the development of rigour?

Answer 16

Ambient temperature

Question 17

What is putrefaction?

Answer 17

Process of decay and decomposition of the body

Question 18

What is putrefaction caused by?

Answer 18

Action of bacterial microorganisms

Question 19

What factors affect putrefaction?

Answer 19

Ambient temperature
Humidity
Cleanliness of environment

Question 20

What is the effect of putrefaction after 2-3 days?

Answer 20

Greenish discolouration of abdominal skin

Question 21

What is the effect of putrefaction after 1 week?

Answer 21

Blister formation and tissue swelling, including gas formation in body cavities
Vascular marbling

Question 22

What is mummification?

Answer 22

Process of dry decomposition with desiccation of the body and a relative lack of bacterial involvement

Question 23

In what age group is mummification particularly common?

Answer 23

Infant bodies

Question 24

What is adipocre formation?

Answer 24

Induced by alteration of fatty tissue within the body into a greasy/waxy or brittle material remaining attached to the bony sleteton

Question 25

When does adipocre occur?

Answer 25

Damn or wet environments

Question 26

What is skeletonisation?

Answer 26

The condition when all of the soft tissues have completely degraded

Question 27

What is post mortem hypostasis?

Answer 27

Represents the pooling of stagnant blood in dependent regions in the body under the influence f gravity

Question 28

How long does it take for post mortem hypostasis to become apparent and well established?

Answer 28

Apparent= 1-2 hours
Established= 6-12 hours

Question 29

What are areas of pressure pallor?

Answer 29

Areas of the body where pressure has been applied, compressing blood vessels and preventing ingress of blood