clinical pathology Flashcards
autopsy findings: summarise causes of sudden unexpected death, and define and recall possible mechanism of injury for traumatic features which may be found on an autopsy including, a bruise, an abrasion, a laceration, a cut and a stab
examples of natural causes of sudden death in community
coronary artery disease (e.g. cardiac arrhythmia), vascular system (e.g. ruptured aortic aneurysm), nervous system (e.g. non-traumatic subarachnoid haemorrhage), respiratory system (e.g. pulmonary embolus), GIT (e.g. pancreatitis)
unnatural causes of sudden death in community
drugs, alcohol, self-induced trauma, trauma from others
when does a bruise (contusion) occur
blunt trauma injury (alone or associated with other injuries) where skin is lax
define bruise
extravasated collection of blood which has leaked from damaged small arteries, venules and veins (not capillaries)
features of bruising
may get patterned, deep bruising may never be seen on surface, difficult to determine bruise age
define abrasion
graze or scratch
when does an abrasion occur
superficial blunt force trauma due to tangential or vertical forces
where does an abrasion occur
confined to epidermis but may extend into superficial dermis
define laceration
split to the skin, passing through full thickness of skin
when does a laceration occur
blunt force trauma overstretching skin
where does a laceration occur
common where skin can be compressed by force and underlying bone (e.g. elbow)
features of a laceration
deep and bleeding, margins ragged with crushing and bruising
define cut
wound which is longer than it is deep
define stab
wound which is deeper than it is wide
causes of cut and stab wounds
object with sharp or cutting edge
