Medical Examiner Flashcards
(38 cards)
Schooling
- college
- medical school
- residency
- 1 more year to pass boards
Two branches
- Anatomic
- Clinical
Autopsy
Examination of the body after death - in sudden, unnatural, unexplained or violent
Autopsy can determine…
- Cause of death
- Mechanism of death
- Manner of death
- Weapon used
Medical examiner’s responsibilities
- Identify the deceased
- Establish time of death
- Determine cause of death
- Determine the mechanism of death
- Classify the manner of death
- Notify the next of kin
Cause of death
The injury or disease that resulted in the person dying
Mechanism of death
The physiological reason that the person died
Manner of death
Natural, accidental, suicide, homicide, or undetermined
Medical examiner questions
- What injuries are present?
- When did the injuries occur?
- Why and how were the injuries produced?
Cardaveric spasms
- Forceful contractions of muscles
- Are rare and involve immediate tight rigor without initial flaccidity
- Occur in deaths like drowning and homicides where struggling has occurred
Color of lividity
- Red/pinkish
- Deep purple
Red/pinkish lividity
High levels of oxygen in the blood
Purple lividity
Poorly oxygenated blood
Factors that slow heat loss
Obesity, clothing, warm still air, exposure to direct sunlight, or an enclosed environment
Factors that increase heat loss
Lack of fat (skinny), unclothed, cold or moving air, water, or shade
What age groups lose heat the quickest?
Children and the elderly
Blood dries after…
30 min - 2 hours
Blue-green discoloration of skin
Right and left area of abdomen - 24 hours
Entire right abdomen - 36 hours
Bloating occurs…
After 36-48 hours
Skin slippage occurs…
After 4-7 days
Absence of smell from bones occurs…
After more than 1 year
Asphyxiation
All cases involve insufficient amounts of oxygen to the brain and other essential organs.
Wounds
Can be fatal or contributing factors in death
Asphyxiation is caused by:
- strangulation (hanging or manual)
- choking
- smothering
- drowning
- smoke inhalation
