Morphologic appearance of postmortem changes

Question 1

Autolysis

Answer 1

• self-digestion or degradation of cells and tissues by the hydrolytic enzymes normally present in tissues
• occurs after somatic death

Question 2

somatic death

Answer 2

due to total diffuse hypoxia

Question 3

hypoxia

Answer 3

cells degenerate as described for hypoxic cell injury

Question 4

putrefaction/decomposition

Answer 4

process by which postmortem bacteria break down tissues

Question 5

Rigor mortis

Answer 5

• refers to the contraction of the muscles after death
• begins 1-6 hrs after death
• high heat and activity accelerate onset

Question 6

algor mortis

Answer 6

cooling of the body postmortem, depends on the temperature of the body at the time of death

Question 7

livor mortis/ hypostatic congestion

Answer 7

gravity will pull blood post death, variation in color of tissues

Question 8

pre- mortem clots

Answer 8

• attached to vessel walls

- dry an duller in color, laminated

Question 9

post mortem clots

Answer 9

• unattached to vessel walls

- shiny and wet, perfect cast of vessel lumina

Question 10

hemoglobin imbibition

Answer 10

red staining of tissue, especially the heart, arteries and veins

Question 11

bile imbibition

Answer 11

• bile in the gallbladder starts to penetrate the wall and stains the adjacent tissue– yellowish to greenish brown
• tissues stained are those in contact with the gallbladder( liver and intestine)

Question 12

bloating

Answer 12

results from postmortem bacterial gas formation in the lumen of the Gi tract

Question 13

pseudomelanosis

Answer 13

refers to the greenish-black discoloration of tissues post mortem