PRELIM LEC: SOMATIC DEATH

Question 1

Refers to the complete cessation of metabolic and functional abilities of an organism

Answer 1

SOMATIC DEATH

Question 2

Occurs 4-6 minutes, then death follows

Answer 2

Primary Changes of Death

Question 3

Primary Changes of Death (CRC)

Answer 3

1. Circulatory failure
2. Respiratory failure
3. Central Nervous System failure

Question 4

start of death when cardiac function
ceases; flat electrocardiogram (ECG), and/or absence of heartbeat is indicative

Answer 4

Circulatory failure

Question 5

decrease O2 and increase CO2; loss of all
processes necessary for life; absence of respiratory sounds and movements is indicative

Answer 5

Respiratory failure

Question 5

loss of coordination and reflexes; absence of brain stem reflex, and/or electroencephalogram (EEG) activity is indicative

Answer 5

Central Nervous System failure

Question 6

Secondary Changes of Death (ARLPDPA)

Answer 6

1. Algor Mortis
2. Rigor Mortis
3. Livor Mortis/Sugillation
4. Post-mortem Clotting

The next 3 stages of death occurs simultaneously and leads to the total digestion of cells:
5. Dessication
6. Putrefaction
7. Autolysis

Question 7

Cooling of the body; decrease in temperature

Answer 7

Algor Mortis

Question 8

Equalizing of the body temperature to the external temp

Answer 8

Algor Mortis

Question 9

Algor Mortis Normal rate of cooling:

Answer 9

7 Fahrenheit/hr

Question 10

Algor Mortis Sped up by:

Answer 10

cold environment, malnutrition/dehydration, severe hemorrhage

Question 11

Algor Mortis Slowed by:

Answer 11

fever, extreme physical activity before death

Question 12

Stiffening of muscles due to lack of ATP (ATP is
responsible for driving calcium ions back to sarcoplasmic reticulum of muscles)

Answer 12

Rigor Mortis

Question 13

First appears in the involuntary muscles of heart

Answer 13

Rigor Mortis

Question 14

Observed in eyelids, followed by neck, then lower extremities

Answer 14

Rigor Mortis

Question 14

Starts 2-3 hrs post-mortem, completes 6-12 hrs post-mortem; persists for 3-4 days

Answer 14

Rigor Mortis

Question 15

After 3 to 4 days, relaxation occurs due to breakdown of contracted muscles

Answer 15

Rigor Mortis

Question 16

Rigor Mortis Factors:

Answer 16

muscle activity by the time of death;

Question 16

Rigor Mortis Sped up by:

Answer 16

warm environment; infancy; thin-layered muscles

Question 16

Rigor Mortis Slowed by:

Answer 16

cold environment; obese people

Question 17

Purplish discoloration of skin due to blood stasis

Answer 17

Livor Mortis/Sugillation

Question 18

Blood vessels dilate due to loss of muscle tone

Answer 18

Livor Mortis/Sugillation

Question 18

Lividity of the dependent portions of the body due to settling of blood to the lowest parts of the body at the time of death

Answer 18

Livor Mortis/Sugillation

Question 19

Cause

Livor Mortis/Sugillation

Answer 19

Post-mortem stasis of blood

Question 20

After application of pressure (Blanching test) | Livor Mortis/Sugillation

Answer 20

Discoloration disappears

Question 21

After incision | Livor Mortis/Sugillation

Answer 21

Has oozing

Question 22

Cause | Ecchymosis

Answer 22

Trauma

Question 23

After application of pressure (Blanching test) | Ecchymosis

Answer 23

No disappearance

Question 24

After incision | Ecchymosis

Answer 24

No oozing

Question 25

Occurs immediately after death; apparent only in autopsy

Answer 25

Post-mortem Clotting

Question 26

Appearance | Post-mortem Clotting

Answer 26

Upper layer is clear (resembles chicken fat); RBC settles at the lowest part of the blood vessel (resembles currant jelly)

Question 26

Consistency | Post-mortem Clotting

Answer 26

Rubbery

Question 27

Shape | Post-mortem Clotting

Answer 27

Assumes blood vessel shape

Question 28

Appearance | Ante-Mortem Clot

Answer 28

Has tangled, irregular fibrin

Question 29

Shape | Ante-Mortem Clot

Answer 29

Seldom assumes blood vessel shape

Question 30

Consistency | Ante-Mortem Clot

Answer 30

Non-rubbery

Question 30

General drying and wrinkling of fluid-filled organs;

Answer 30

Dessication

Question 30

most evident in the cornea, and anterior chamber of eye

Answer 30

Dessication

Question 31

Decomposition of body carried out by microbial action (normal flora from gut migrates to blood vessels and spreads all over the body)

Answer 31

Putrefaction

Question 32

Putrefaction Principal agent:

Answer 32

*Clostridium welchii* (gram-positive, anaerobic, rod-shaped)

Question 33

Putrefaction First external sign:

Answer 33

Greenish discoloration of skin over the right iliac fossa due to bacterial hydrogen sulfide reacting with hemoglobin, thus forming sulphahemoglobin which stains the area green

Question 34

Eventual production of foul-smelling gas due to invasion of saprophytes, which leads to distension of abdomen, swelling of face and genitalia, and liquefaction of internal organs

Answer 34

Putrefaction

Question 35

Most resistant to putrefaction: prostate gland

Answer 35

Putrefaction

Question 36

“Self-destruction”; the self-digestion of the cells by their own enzymes;

Answer 36

Autolysis

Question 37

First external sign is the whitish appearance of cornea

Answer 37

Autolysis

Question 38

The next 3 stages of death occurs simultaneously and leads to the total digestion of cells:

Answer 38

1. Dessication 2. Putrefaction 3. Autolysis