Post Mortem Pathology

Question 1

Name the 8 possible causes of death including examples [16]

Answer 1

I, I, I, Don’t Need To MoVe

• Infective → e.g. pneumonia
• Inflammation → e.g. COPD
• Iatrogenic → e.g. intra-operative death
• Degenerative → e.g. Alzheimer’s disease
• Neoplastic → e.g. lung & breast cancer
• Traumatic → e.g. road traffic collision
• Metabolic → e.g. diabetes
• Vascular → e.g. myocardial infarction (MI)

Question 2

What is thrombosis? [1]

Answer 2

when blood turns solid and forms a coagulated blood mass (thrombus)

Question 3

What is infarction? [1]

Answer 3

death of part or whole organ due to blockage of blood supply (by a thrombus)

Question 4

What are the 2 possible outcomes of a myocardial infarction? [2]

Answer 4

1. sudden death from arrhythmia or acute left ventricular failure or
2. cardiac rupture through weakened necrotic muscle

Question 5

Hemopericardium

1. what is it? [1]
2. causes? [4]
3. complications? [2]

Answer 5

1. presence of blood within the membranous sac (pericardium) surrounding the heart
2. causes:
   
   • injury
   • tumours
   • rupture of heart (following MI)
   • leaking aneurysm
3. complications:
   
   • heart is compressed (cardiac tamponade)
   • impaired circulation

Question 6

What is an embolism? [1]

Answer 6

mass of material that can move through the vascular system and is capable of blocking the lumen

Question 7

What are the 4 possible causes of a haemorrhage? [4]

Answer 7

blood loss from ruptured blood vessel can be due to:

1. blood vessel being under high pressure
2. congenital weakness (problem with vascular wall)
3. blood vessel weakened by disease
4. erosion by ulcer or tumour