Signs Of Death

Question 1

What is the ‘tripod of life’ in the context of death definition?

Answer 1

Permanent and irreversible stoppage of respiration, circulation, and brain function.

Question 2

Differentiate between somatic death and molecular death.

Answer 2

Somatic death involves extinction of personality, loss of vital processes; Molecular death is progressive disintegration of body tissues.

Question 3

Name the three phases of death and a key characteristic of each.

Answer 3

Pallor mortis: paleness; Algor mortis: cooling of the body; Rigor mortis: stiffening of muscles.

Question 4

What is Thanatology?

Answer 4

The scientific study of death and practices associated with it.

Question 5

What temperature is a body’s death confirmed when it drops below?

Answer 5

21°C or lower.

Question 6

What are the Philadelphia Protocol’s criteria for death?

Answer 6

Includes lack of responsiveness, absence of breathing for 3 minutes, absent reflexes, and isoelectric EEG.

Question 7

Explain Harvard Criteria for death determination.

Answer 7

No movements, unresponsiveness, apnea, absence of reflexes, and isoelectric EEG.

Question 8

List signs used to confirm death.

Answer 8

No pupil reaction, no jaw reflex, no gag reflex, no response to pain, no breathing, temperature above 30°C.

Question 9

What is ‘Suspended Animation’?

Answer 9

A state where signs of life reduce to a minimal level, leading to possible survival upon resuscitation.

Question 10

Name some causes of suspended animation.

Answer 10

Shock, hypothermia, drowning, barbiturate poisoning, epilepsy, sunstroke.

Question 11

Describe the appearance of Tache Noire Sclerotique.

Answer 11

Two brownish triangular opacities on either side of the cornea, appearing 3-6 hours postmortem.

Question 12

Define the term ‘adipocere’.

Answer 12

A waxy substance formed by hydrolysis and hydrogenation of body fat, preserving the body longer.

Question 13

What changes occur in the cornea postmortem?

Answer 13

Becomes soft, hazy, opaque; Tache Noire develops; intraocular tension drops.

Question 14

What is Rigor Mortis and when does it begin?

Answer 14

Stiffening of muscles postmortem due to ATP depletion, starting within 1-2 hours after death.

Question 15

How long does rigor mortis last?

Answer 15

Develops over 12 hours, remains for 12 hours, and disappears over the next 12 hours.

Question 16

Explain ‘algor mortis’.

Answer 16

The gradual cooling of the body after death, which may help estimate the time of death.

Question 17

How does body temperature affect algor mortis rate?

Answer 17

Larger body mass, clothing, obesity, and environmental conditions affect rate of cooling.

Question 18

What is livor mortis and when does it appear?

Answer 18

Postmortem staining due to blood settling in lower parts of body, developing within 0.5-1 hour and maxing in 6-12 hours.

Question 19

List three types of muscle stiffening and their causes.

Answer 19

Rigor mortis (ATP depletion), heat stiffening (>65°C, coagulates muscle protein), gas stiffening (gas buildup).

Question 20

Differentiate rigor mortis from cadaveric spasm.

Answer 20

Rigor mortis involves all muscles after death, cadaveric spasm affects only voluntary muscles immediately after death.

Question 21

What color changes occur in cases of carbon monoxide poisoning?

Answer 21

Cherry-red color due to increased carboxyhemoglobin levels.

Question 22

Define marbling in the context of postmortem changes.

Answer 22

Green-brown discoloration of superficial veins due to Clostridium welchii bacterial activity.

Question 23

What are common body areas affected first by decomposition?

Answer 23

Larynx and trachea, followed by stomach, spleen, and small intestine.

Question 24

Explain the function of embalming fluid components.

Answer 24

Preservatives (e.g., formalin), antiseptics (e.g., phenol), wetting agents, anticoagulants, buffers, vehicle (water).

Question 25

What is the I card test?

Answer 25

Hypodermic injection of fluorescein; no skin discoloration if circulation has stopped.

Question 26

What factors affect the rate of rigor mortis?

Answer 26

Temperature, physical exertion before death, and ambient conditions.

Question 27

What is the Kevorkian sign?

Answer 27

Segmented or fragmented retinal blood vessels, used to estimate time since death.

Question 28

Describe 'putrefaction'.

Answer 28

Decomposition involving color change, gas formation, and liquefaction of tissue.

Question 29

What organs decompose last in males and females?

Answer 29

Prostate in males, non-gravid uterus in females.

Question 30

List indicators used to estimate time of death.

Answer 30

Body warmth and rigidity: warm/flaccid (under 3 hours), warm/stiff (3-8 hours), cold/stiff (8-36 hours), cold/flaccid (over 36 hours).

Question 31

Explain the term ‘autolysis’.

Answer 31

Enzyme-driven cellular breakdown postmortem.

Question 32

What is pallor mortis?

Answer 32

The immediate paleness of skin following death.

Question 33

What is the Winslow test?

Answer 33

Glass of water on chest to detect breathing by observing movement.

Question 34

What is cadaveric spasm?

Answer 34

Instantaneous muscle stiffening in specific cases, preserving last body position.

Question 35

What is the most common condition linked with suspended animation?

Answer 35

Hypothermia.

Question 36

How does adipocere form, and what conditions favor it?

Answer 36

From body fat hydrolysis in warm, moist environments with certain bacterial activity (e.g., Clostridium welchii).

Question 37

What postmortem change is caused by a drop in ATP?

Answer 37

Rigor mortis due to lack of muscle contraction relaxation.

Question 38

How is decomposition inhibited?

Answer 38

By poisons such as strychnine, arsenic, carbon monoxide, or cyanide.

Question 39

What does the Harvard Criteria say about reflexes?

Answer 39

All reflexes, including corneal and vestibulo-ocular, must be absent.

Question 40

What skin changes occur early after death?

Answer 40

Loss of elasticity and pallor, with possible lividity.

Question 41

What biochemical changes occur in the eye after death?

Answer 41

Elevated potassium, sodium, and vitamin C levels; LDH and glutamic acid increase.

Question 42

What is the significance of skin elasticity loss?

Answer 42

Indicates early postmortem changes and cessation of physiological function.

Question 43

Describe the sequence of rigor mortis onset.

Answer 43

Starts in jaw/neck, progresses to arms and lower limbs.

Question 44

What changes indicate cellular death in rigor mortis?

Answer 44

Loss of actin-myosin separation due to ATP depletion.

Question 45

How does environmental temperature influence rigor mortis?

Answer 45

High temperatures speed onset; low temperatures slow it down.

Question 46

What is the Magnus test?

Answer 46

Ligature tied on finger base; if no color change, circulation has ceased.

Question 47

List conditions that cause livor mortis.

Answer 47

Position of body, gravity, capillary stasis, environmental factors.

Question 48

What body temperature indicates possible survival after cold-water drowning?

Answer 48

Above 30°C.

Question 49

What is the gag reflex test in death confirmation?

Answer 49

Touching the throat to induce vomiting; absence indicates death.

Question 50

What eye condition occurs from desiccation after death?

Answer 50

Tache Noire Sclerotique in cornea.

Question 51

How do poisons affect color changes in death?

Answer 51

Different poisons cause distinct colorations, e.g., cyanide (red), methanol (purple).

Question 52

What reflexes are tested to confirm death?

Answer 52

Pupil, corneal, supraorbital, snort, and deep tendon reflexes.

Question 53

What is the role of adipocere in preservation?

Answer 53

Inhibits bacterial growth, slows decomposition.

Question 54

What is the railroading phenomenon?

Answer 54

Segmented appearance of retinal blood vessels after death.

Question 55

How is suspended animation used in yoga?

Answer 55

Voluntary practice to achieve minimal life signs.

Question 56

What is marbling?

Answer 56

Discoloration pattern of superficial veins due to bacterial activity in blood.

Question 57

What is the feather test?

Answer 57

A feather placed near nose/mouth; lack of movement confirms absence of breathing.

Question 58

What is the Doll’s head phenomenon?

Answer 58

Lack of eye movement when head is turned, used in brainstem death diagnosis.

Question 59

How does cadaveric spasm differ from rigor mortis?

Answer 59

Cadaveric spasm occurs immediately in voluntary muscles; rigor mortis involves all muscles.

Question 60

What indicates primary flaccidity?

Answer 60

Initial muscle relaxation post-somatic death before rigor mortis sets in.

Question 61

Explain the importance of the corneal reflex in death assessment.

Answer 61

Absence suggests brainstem death.

Question 62

What are changes in intraocular pressure postmortem?

Answer 62

Drops rapidly to zero within hours.

Question 63

What factors influence postmortem cooling?

Answer 63

Body mass, surface area, clothing, and environmental conditions.

Question 64

What is the effect of CO poisoning on cadaver color?

Answer 64

Produces a characteristic cherry-red color.

Question 65

Describe a superficial sign of death.

Answer 65

Absence of pupil response to light.

Question 66

What role does hypostasis play in determining time of death?

Answer 66

Progression of blood settling can help estimate elapsed time since death.