POST MORTEM ARTIFACTS

Question 1

removal of organs (esp eyes, tongue, rectum) of
carcass by carrion eating animals (e.g., dogs, coyotes, ravens, vultures, etc).

Answer 1

POSTMORTEM SCAVENGIN

Question 2

is the rigidity or stiffening of muscles after death due to contraction of muscle
fibers as ATPs are depleted or exhausted.

Answer 2

RIGOR MORTIS

Question 3

rigor mortis starts after:

Answer 3

1-6 hours after death up to 1-2 days

Question 4

gradual cooling of the body after death.

Answer 4

ALGOR MORTIS

Question 5

gravitational pooling/settling of blood to the dependant regions (“down side”)
of the body. In this instance, you will know the position of the individual when it
was dead.

Answer 5

LIVOR MORTIS

Question 6

occurs in heart and vessels.
rbc’s may separate from plasma (esp in animals with high fibrinogen levels, eg
horses) = “chicken fat clot”

Answer 6

POSTMORTEM CLOTTING

Question 7

HqB released by rbc’s & breakdown after death

Answer 7

HEMOGLOBIN INHIBITION

Question 8

leakage of bile from gall bladder and major bile ducts which stains adjacent
tissues green to yellow.

Answer 8

BILE IMBITION

Question 9

term used to describe an artifactual black discoloration of tissues (similar in an
appearance to melanosis).

Answer 9

PESUDOMELANOSIS

Question 10

after death, decomposition of tissues begins by progressive release of endogenous enzymes (autolysis) and more gradually by the action of
saprophytic bacteria (especially from gut).

Answer 10

POSTMORTEM AUTOLYSIS

Question 11

RATE OF PROGRESSION FACTORS in postmortem autolysis:

Answer 11

1. BODY TEMPERATURE at time of death
2. AMBIENT TEMPERATURE
3. SIZE OF BODY
4. AMOUNT OF FAT/ HAIR/ WOOL
5. CAUSE OF DEATH
   6/. OFTEN MOTTED & SOFTT

Question 12

refers to the enzymatic decomposition of organic material (tissue) with production of foul-smelling compounds (eg H2S, NH3,
mercaptans), especially by saprophytic / putrefactive bacteria.

Answer 12

PUTREFACTION OR ROTTING