Post Mortem findings and ID of a body

Question 1

What happens after death

Answer 1

Following cardiovascular failure, there is failure of oxygen delivery to the tissues resulting in cellular death.
Energy production ceases and the body cools.
The circulating blood becomes stagnant and settles under the effects of gravity.
The usual body defences fail and it can no longer inhibit the proliferation of bacteria - putrefaction ensues

Question 2

What time frame gives the “timing of death”

Answer 2

First 18 hours

Question 3

Factors which influence the rate of body cooling

Answer 3

Body temperature at the time of death: what is the usual temperature and can it vary?
Is the body clothed? What is the nature of the clothing?
Natural insulation of the body!
Convection currents
Environmental temperature

Question 4

Can stomach emptying be used as a means of measuring time of death

Answer 4

No
Too many factors influence the rate at which the stomach empties, e.g. nature/amount of food, solids vs liquids, stress, certain medication

Question 5

What is rigour mortis

Answer 5

Stiffening and shortening of muscle fibres leading to rigidity of the musculature and fixation of the joints

Question 6

what causes rigour mortis

Answer 6

Due to the reduction of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) within the muscles after death

Question 7

When does rigour mortis become apparent then established

Answer 7

Becomes apparent 5-7 hours after death

Usually full established by 8-12 hours after death

Question 8

when does the body return to flaccid state

Answer 8

after 36 hours

Question 9

What is the timing of rigor mortis susceptible to

Answer 9

biologically variability: ambient temperature,

Question 10

What causes decomposition and Putrefaction

Answer 10

Caused by the action of bacterial micro-organisms; process begins at death, but takes a period of time to become detectable

Question 11

What variables exist for bacterial micro - organisms decomposition of body

Answer 11

ambient temperature, humidity, “cleanliness” of the environment in which the body lies

Question 12

What can be seen due to putrefaction of the superficial veins in the skin

Answer 12

Blister formation and tissue swelling, including gas formation in body cavities = Vascular “marbling”

Question 13

Certain organs relatively resistant to putrefaction and their persistence can be valuable for what

Answer 13

identification purposes

Question 14

What is mummification

Answer 14

A process of “dry” decomposition, with desiccation of the body and a relative lack of bacterial involvement
Body essentially “dries out”; the facial features and hands/feet may become rigid
Preservation may be remarkable

Question 15

What is Adipocere formation

Answer 15

Induced by the alteration of fatty tissue within the body into a greasy/waxy or brittle material which frequently remains attached to the bony skeleton and may retain the body structure to some extent
Tends to occur in damp or wet environments, e.g. bodies recovered from water

Question 16

What is Skeletonisation

Answer 16

The condition when all of the soft tissues of the body have completely degraded
The process is extremely variable: main variables are exposure to meat-eating animals (post mortem animal predation, e.g. rats) and to dipterous larvae

Question 17

What radio types can be used to age bones

Answer 17

strontium and polonium

Question 18

What is Post mortem Hypostasis

Answer 18

Represents the pooling of stagnant blood in dependent regions of the body under the influence of gravity more apparent on external than internal organs

Question 19

When does Post mortem Hypostasis occur

Answer 19

Begins as soon as the circulation of blood ceases, but takes time to become visible, usually about 1-2 hours, and fully established by 6-12 hours

Question 20

How is post mortem hypostasis useful

Answer 20

Not so useful as a means of timing death, but can be a great help in ascertaining the position of the body after death and can indicate if the body has been moved after death

Question 21

What is it difficult to distinguish hypostasis against

Answer 21

bruising

haemorrhagic lividity i.e. when the head is hanging of the bed

Question 22

What is the usually colour of hypostasis

Answer 22

Usually pink/purple in colour

Question 23

What can cherry red hypostasis indicate

Answer 23

indicator of carbon monoxide poisoning

Question 24

What can a red brown colour indicate

Answer 24

may be seen with methaemoglobin

Question 25

What does Post mortem Artefacts

Answer 25

Alteration or damage to the body occurring after death which may mimic genuine processes occurring in life

Question 26

Examples of post mortem artefacts

Answer 26

Resuscitation (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
Animal predation (land and sea)
Traumatic injury (water, motor)