Post mortem changes Flashcards
How is age determined in foetus?
Bone development assessment using ossification centres
How is age determined in children and teenagers?
Assessment of epiphyses
How is age determined in adults?
Normally teeth
How is height determined?
Individual bones of the lover limb most useful
What medical information is used to determine identity?
History of gallstones, arthritis, deformities
Surgical procedures, tattoos
What personal information can be used to determine identity?
Fingerprints
Dental records
DNA
What is death?
Irreversible failure of the cardiovascular system
What factors can be used to predict time of death?
Algor mortis- temperature
Liver mortis- blood pooling
Rigor mortis
Body decomposition
What is used in the first 12 hours after death?
Algor mortis
What factors can affect algor mortis?
Body temperature at time of death
Natural insulation of body
Is the body clothed
Convection current
What is the rule of thumb when using body temperature to calculate time of death?
1 degree an hour
What is rigour mortis?
Stiffening and shortening of the muscle fibres leading to rigidity
What is rigour mortis caused by?
Reduction of ATP within the muscles
When does rigour mortis become apparent and the fully established?
Apparent- 5-7 hours
Established- 8-12 hours
When is rigour mortis absent by?
36 hours after death
What factors affect the development of rigour?
Ambient temperature
What is putrefaction?
Process of decay and decomposition of the body
What is putrefaction caused by?
Action of bacterial microorganisms
What factors affect putrefaction?
Ambient temperature
Humidity
Cleanliness of environment
What is the effect of putrefaction after 2-3 days?
Greenish discolouration of abdominal skin
What is the effect of putrefaction after 1 week?
Blister formation and tissue swelling, including gas formation in body cavities
Vascular marbling
What is mummification?
Process of dry decomposition with desiccation of the body and a relative lack of bacterial involvement
In what age group is mummification particularly common?
Infant bodies
What is adipocre formation?
Induced by alteration of fatty tissue within the body into a greasy/waxy or brittle material remaining attached to the bony sleteton
When does adipocre occur?
Damn or wet environments
What is skeletonisation?
The condition when all of the soft tissues have completely degraded
What is post mortem hypostasis?
Represents the pooling of stagnant blood in dependent regions in the body under the influence f gravity
How long does it take for post mortem hypostasis to become apparent and well established?
Apparent= 1-2 hours Established= 6-12 hours
What are areas of pressure pallor?
Areas of the body where pressure has been applied, compressing blood vessels and preventing ingress of blood
