Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Governing Decomposition

Question 1

1. Age
2. Sex
3. Corpulence
4. Cause and manner of death
5. Bacterial and parasitic activity
6. Pharmaceutical agents

Answer 1

Intrinsic Factors

Question 2

1. Air
2. Moisture
3. Temperature
4. Bacterial and parasitic activity
5. Pressure due to earth or clothing
6. Vermin including maggots, lice, and rats

Answer 2

Extrinsic Factors

Question 3

Decompose very slowly because of the absence of intestinal flora.

Answer 3

Age: Stillborn Infants (Intrinsic)

Question 4

Which have lived long enough to be fed or have breathed will decompose rapidly because of an abundance of intestinal flora.

Answer 4

Age: Infants (Intrinsic)

Question 5

Because of a lack of mositure and dehydration, will generally decompose at a much slower rate.

Answer 5

Age: An Aged Person (Intrinsic)

Question 6

So called healthy individual with a high moisture content and high quantity of bacteria in the gastro-intestinal tract, will usually decompose rapidly.

Answer 6

Age: A Middle Aged Person (Intrinsic)

Question 7

Certain diseases and conditions common to one sex or the other may have a marked influence on the rate of putrefaction.

Answer 7

Sex (Intrinsic)

Question 8

A higher moisture content and greater amount of subcutaneous fat usually brings on putrefaction at a much greater rate.

Answer 8

Sex: Female (Intrinsic)

Question 9

Postpartum hemorrhage, death in childbirth, may also caused a rapid onset of putrefaction.

Answer 9

Sex: Female (Intrinsic)

Question 10

Obese persons decompose more rapidly than thin ones largely because of the higher moisture content and the greater retention of body heat.

• After Death, postmortem caloricity encourages putrefaction.

Answer 10

Corpulence (state of nutrition)

(Intrinsic)

Question 11

Moisture is essential for bacterial growth. Putrefaction is accelerated when the tissues are edematous, as in death from congestive heart failure.

• Putrefaction is delayed when the tissues are dehydrated as in death preceded by severe vomiting and diarrhea.

Answer 11

Corpulence: State of hydration of the tissues (Intrinsic)

Question 12

Optimum temperature for the growth of bacteria causing decomposition is 100^oF. Postmortem caloricity encourages putrefaction.

• A rapid onset of algor mortis however, will slow down the putrefactive process.

Answer 12

Corpulence: Body Heat (Intrinsic)

Question 13

Can either increase or alter the rate of putrefaction.

• Example: Any emaciation producing disease causing dehydration, such as febrile diseases, will retard putrefaction.

Answer 13

Cause and Manner of Death (Intrinsic)

Question 14

The amount of organisms accumulated within the body (especially the intestinal tract, body tissues, and fluids as a result of infection) will hasten the putrefactive process, particularly if the count is high at the time of death. (septic conditions)

Answer 14

Bacterial and Parasitic Activity: Anaerobic Bacteria (Intrinsic)

Question 15

The decomposition is primarily due to the enzymes produced by the bacteria.

Answer 15

Bacterial and Parasitic Activity: Parasitic Activity (Intrinsic)

Question 16

A rather recent problem; certain drugs taken prior to death can either hasten or retard putrefaction.

• Example: Coagulants and anti-coagulants, cancer drugs (radium, cobalt), narcotics.
• Anticoagulants can cause postmortem stain

Answer 16

Pharmaceutical Agents (Drugs)

(Intrinsic)

Question 17

A free access of this accelerates decomposition for two reasons:

1. Additional airborne bacteria are carried to the body and could enter through various openings, wounds, etc.
2. Decay would be rapid because the organisms would be aerobic.

Answer 17

Air (Extrinsic)

Question 18

Johann Ludwig Casper, Berlin, Germany.

• All things being equal
• A body will decompose as much in one week lying on the ground as it would in two weeks submerged in water, and as much as in eight weeks buried in the ground.
• A body, then, will decompose at a rate of 1-2-8 in air, water, and underground.

Answer 18

Casper’s Dictum

Question 19

More pressure means this.

Answer 19

Less Decomposition

Question 20

Less pressure means this.

Answer 20

More Decomposition

Question 21

The humidity in the atmosphere. Decay is accelerated when there is a free access to warm, humid air or in a high moisture environment.

• In a hot, dry climate the body will dehydrate rapidly and mummify; bacteria will burn up.

Answer 21

Moisture (Extrinsic)

Question 22

One of the most important factors affecting bacterial growth.

• Optimum- 98^oF - 100^oF
• Minimum- 32^oF
• Maximum- 120^oF (which stops most decomposition)

Answer 22

Temperature (Extrinsic)

Question 23

The aerobic organisms invade the body and cause decay.

Answer 23

Bacterial and Parasitic Activity: Aerobic Bacteria (Extrinsic)

Question 24

Free access to air, airborne.

• Enzymes of aerobic bacteria act on tissue as a form of this kind of activity.

Answer 24

Bacterial and Parasitic Activity: Parasitic Activity (Extrinsic)

Question 25

Decomposition is slowed in those bodies which are protected by the pressure of earth an/or clothing.

• As Casper stated in his dictum, pressure directly on the body retards decomposition.

Answer 25

Pressure Due to Earth or Clothing (Extrinsic)

Question 26

All will create portals of entry and severe damage to tissue. All act as vectors carrying bacteria that will hasten decomposition.

Answer 26

Vermin Including Maggots, Lice, and Rats (Extrinsic)

Question 27

The nature of the soil and the depth of burial have a pronounced influence on the rate of putrefaction.

• Putrefaction is rapid in a shallow, moist clay-based soil. Acids from the body have no way to run off, and the body will disintegrate.
• Putrefaction is slower, and in some cases, non-existent when buried in hot, dry sand-based soil; natural dehydrated mummy.

Answer 27

Decomposition of a Body Buried in The Earth

Question 28

A body will usually float face down. Decomposition will appear first in the face and neck due to hydrolysis, not bacterial invasion.

• Bodies will submerge in a fluid medium, but will eventually float to the surface because of visceral and/or tissue gas. (Within three days)

Answer 28

Decomposition of a Body in Water

Question 29

This is more rapid in warm, stagnant, still water than in cold, clear, running water.

Answer 29

Putrefaction

Question 30

It will take twice as long for a body to decompose in water than this.

Answer 30

Than in Free Access to Air

Question 31

• Temperature
• Nature of the Medium
• Movement of Fluid

Answer 31

Factors Governing the Rate of Putrefaction in Water

Question 32

Putrefaction is more rapid in warm water than in cold water.

Answer 32

Temperature (Putrefaction in water)

Question 33

• Putrefaction is more rapid in a medium containing decomposing matter than in unpolluted water.
• Putrefaction is more rapid in fresh water than in salt water.
• Saltwater actually acts as a preservative slowing the rate of general decomposition.

Answer 33

Nature of the Medium (water)

Question 34

• Putrefaction is more rapid in stagnant water than in running water.
• Putrefaction is often accelerated after a body has been removed from a fluid medium.

Answer 34

Movement of Fluid

Question 35

Will decompose in the amniotic sac and go into desquamation rapidly because of hydrolysis involving the amniotic fluid (Maceration).

Answer 35

A Stillborn Baby