Post-Mortem Technique

Question 1

What does gross pathology refer to?

Answer 1

It refers to macroscopic manifestations of disease in organs, tissues and body cavities

Question 2

Name 5 pieces of equipment you would need for a post-mortem

Answer 2

• PPE, including latex gloves, coverals and a plastic apron
• Sharp blades for cutting soft tissue
• Sturdy instruments for cutting bone and removing brain
• Dissection instruments
• Measurement tools
• Camera

Question 3

What are some things you may notice on an external examination

Answer 3

• Body Condition (dehydration, adipose tissue,…)
• External lesions e.g wounds, hair clipping
• Colour of the mucus membranes, skin and sclera
• Discharge from orifices
• Ectoparasites

Question 4

What is the purpose of incising the skin of the axilla

Answer 4

reflects the right or both forelimbs

Question 5

What is the purpose of incising the skin of the groin

Answer 5

Opens the coxo-femoral cavity to disarticulate the right or both limbs

Question 6

What is an agonal change?

Answer 6

Changes that occur at or around the time of death
they are often due to the mechanism of death (e.g cardiorespiratory failure)

Question 7

Pallor mortis

Answer 7

paleness due to cessation of blood circulation

Question 8

What is algor mortis

Answer 8

cooling of the carcass (depends on size, amount of fat, environmental temperature and conditions)

Question 9

What is rigor mortis

Answer 9

rigidity

Question 10

What is Livor mortis?

Answer 10

hypostatic congestion- pooling of blood in dependent sites due to gravity

Question 11

Name 6 post-mortem changes

Answer 11

• Pallor mortis
• Algor mortis
• Rigor mortis
• Livor mortis
• Rumen mucousal sloughing
• Bloating

Question 12

What is rumen mucousal sloughing?

Answer 12

failure to slough after many hours (6-12) which may indicate an underlying lesion

Question 12

What are some non-lesion post-mortem findings?

Answer 12

• Meningeal fibrosis
• Spinal dural ossification
• Lens sclerosis
• Teeth wear and tear
• Oesophageal gland dilation

Question 13

What is autolysis?

Answer 13

Breakdown of tissue as a result of enzymes contained within cells

Question 14

What is putrefaction?

Answer 14

Breakdown of dead tissue by overgrowth of microorganisms

Question 15

What is dessication?

Answer 15

Loss of water from tissues

Question 16

What is the purpose of insect colonization?

Answer 16

allows the determination of the time of death

Question 17

What do clots look like in post-mortem?

Answer 17

They are not adhered to vessel walls and they form casts of the vessels in which they are found

Question 18

What do anti-mortem thrombi in arteries look like post-mortem?

Answer 18

They will be attached to the artery wall, they are often dry and taper off in the direction of blood flow before death

Question 19

What is haemoglobin imbibtion?

Answer 19

Staining of tissues by haemoglobin pigment due to erythrocyte rupture after death

Question 20

What is bile imbibition?

Answer 20

Staining of tissues by bile pigment leaching out from the gall bladder after death

Question 21

What is pseudomelanosis?

Answer 21

Blue-green / green-black discolouration from hydrogen sulphide created by putrefying bacteria (gut, kidneys, liver, spleen)

Question 22

What is pseudoicterus?

occurs only in horses

Answer 22

: Relative increase of normal blood pigments including carotene (e.g., dehydration) vs Guernsey and Jersey cattle, most primates, etc.