Post Mortem Changes & Non-lesions

Question 1

Describe autolysis.

Answer 1

-self digestion or degradation of cells & tissues by hydrolytic enzymes normally in tissues
-after cell death due to hypoxia
-tissues w greater conc of proteolytic enzymes autolyze fastest: GIT, pancreas, gall bladder…

Question 2

Describe putrefaction.

Answer 2

-PM bacteria break down tissue
-color, texture, gas, odor

Question 3

Describe what the rate of decomposition depends on.

Answer 3

1. Cause of death
2. Environmental & body temp
3. Microbial flora
   >GIT
   >bacterial ferm cont after death -> gas & heat

Question 4

Describe rigor mortis.

Answer 4

-contraction of muscles after death
-1-6h post death & persists for 1-2d
-high heat & high activity before death accelerate rigor mortis
-depletion of ATP & inability of myosin to detach from the actin binding site

Question 5

Describe algor mortis.

Answer 5

-cooling of body PM depends on temp of body at time of death & fat/insulation of coat
-brain temp decreases depending on ambient temp

Question 6

Describe livor mortis.

Answer 6

‘Hypostatic congestion’
-gravity pulls blood down after death
-variation in color of tissues = skin, lung, kidneys
>some areas the tissue appear darker red

Question 7

Describe PM blood clotting.

Answer 7

-several hrs after death in heart & vessels
-coagulopathies delay or cause failure of blood to clot
-‘chicken fat clot/black currant jelly’ = due to sep RBCs & clotted serum

Question 8

Describe antemortem clot (thrombus) VS PM clot.

Answer 8

1. Antemortem
   -attached to vessel walls
   -dry/dull
   -laminated
   -friable
   -gritty
2. PM
   -unattached
   -shiny/wet/smooth
   -elastic
   -perfect cast of vessel

Question 9

Describe hemoglobin imbibition.

Answer 9

-red stain of tissue ESP intima of heart, arteries, & veins
-Hb released by lysed RBCs, penetrate vessel wall & extend into adj tissue

Question 10

Describe bile imbibition.

Answer 10

-bile in gallbladder penetrate the wall & stain the adj tissue = yellow/green
-tissue stained in contact w gall bladder: liver, intestine, diaphragm

Question 11

Describe PM eye changes.

Answer 11

-corneal opacity bc dehydrated cornea
-‘cold cataracts’

Question 12

Describe pseudomelanosis.

Answer 12

-green/black discolor of tissue PM
-decomp of blood by bacteria form hydrogen sulfide w iron
-soon after death
-in tissues contact w the gut: kidney, liver, spleen, gut wall

Question 13

Describe bloat.

Answer 13

-PM bacterial gas in lumen of GIT
-herbivore bloat faster
-be able to differentiate from ruminal tympany (real)
>bloat line

Question 14

Describe examples of PM VS antemortem.

Answer 14

antemortem = redness, irritation, etc
PM: (normal, not sig)
-ingesta in trachea VS antemortem aspiration
-Intussusception
-giant congested spleen bc euth
-calcium deposit in heart bc euth
-lung w osseosus metaplasia
-pale kidney in cat
-horse bladder filled w sediment (ca carbonate & mucous)
-peyers patch in cat sm intestine
-unguiculate papillae in rumenoreticular groove of calf
-horse spleen w capsular indentation & extracapsular red pulp
-placenta of horse ‘cervical star’
-amniotic plaque (hyperkeratosis) in aborted calf fetus
-equine fetus hoof
-foal lingual hyperkeratosis
-gastroliths in llama
-deer hemal nodes