Post mortem decomp 8 1

Question 1

Thanatology

Answer 1

o Scientific study of death
o Mechanisms and forensic aspects of death
 Bodily changes accompany death and the post-mortem period

Question 2

thanatology derived

Answer 2

Word derived from the Greek language
 In Greek mythology, Thanatos “death” is the personification of death
 The English suffix -ology derives from the Greek suffix -logia “speaking”

Question 3

Elie Metchnikoff

Answer 3

Famous for work microbiology and discovery of phagocytosis
 Advocated without systematic attention to death, life sciences would not
be complete
 Few scholars and educators agree with him, the support he needed

Question 4

Decomposed bodies

Answer 4

1 st practice knowledge of decomposition via handling and dissecting bodies obtained for
anatomical study
 During 19 th and 20 th centuries study effects of:
o Time
o Environment
o Manner of death
 Vital part of forensics science

Question 5

Decomposition

Answer 5

Dramatic impact on the body
o Altering matrix [blood and tissue]
o Causing formation of compounds
 Breakdown of endogenous constituents
o Loss f compounds
 Decomposition can be considered in two phases
o First, occurs before sample is taken
o Second, after collecting and stored
 Confuse interpretation
 Interfere with analysis
 Death is a process
o Not an event

Question 6

FOur stages of decomp

Answer 6

autolysis-self digestion
Stage two: bloating
Stage three: active decay-liquefaction
Stage four: skeletonization

Question 7

Self digestion

Answer 7

Body environment becomes more acidic [up to ~pH 5]

b. Cell membranes rupture relearning enzymes breaking down tissue
c. Endogenous/exogenous [trauma] bacteria

Question 8

bloating

Answer 8

Enzymatic breakdown by-product volatile gases
b. Causing the body to “bloat”

Question 9

Active decay-liquifaction

Answer 9

Continue enzymatic breakdown to “body soup”
b. Bacterial and proteolytic enzymes of maggots feeding

Question 10

skeletionization

Answer 10

Total loss of tissue mass and decomp liquid

Question 11

When does decomp begin

Answer 11

Begins immediately after death
o Approx. within 4 minutes

Question 12

what can change in decomp process

Answer 12

Variation in length of each stage
o Variation in overall velocity of change

Question 13

Complex chemical rxns resulting in breakdown of normal body consitients

Answer 13

o Lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates
o Amino acids, fatty acids, and sugars