Signs of Death

Known as Immediate death
It includes
Insensibility and loss of EEG rhythm 2. Cessation of circulation 3. Cessation of respiration

1.
Temporary suspension of heart beat and respiratory rate. The vital functions get so low that they cannot be observed
through clinical examination. Involuntary causes: 1. Drowning 2. General anesthesia 3. Electrocution 4. Heat stroke 5. Mesemeric tone 6. Prolonged illness 7. Deep shock Voluntarily yogis can lead themselves to suspended animation.
Known as early death.
It include following characteristics.

1. 2.
3.
4. 5.
Cooling of body Changes in skin Changes in eyes Postmortem lividity Changes in muscles
Known as algor mortis.
After death, balance between heat production and
heat loss gets lost. Heat production ceases while heat loss continues. This results in cooling of the body. Tells about the time elapsed since death. Body temperature is measured by chemical thermometer(thanatometer). Temperature is checked in following places: 1. Rectum 2. Liver 3. Nostrils and auditary meatus
In isothermic phase, there is no loss of body
temperature. The rate of cooling is not uniform. In first 2 hours, the average rate of fall of temperature is half of the temperature between body and the surroundings. In next 2 hours, the temperature falls at half of the initial rate. In subsequent hours, the rate of fall of temperature is quarter of initial rate. Example: Body temp: 38 C Room temp:20 Initial loss: 38-22=16/2=8C After 2 hrs: 8/2=4C In next hours: 8/4=2C
In some conditions the temperature of the body
increases. This increase in temperature is known as postmortem caloricity. These conditions include: 1. Sunstroke and pontine hemorrhage 2. Tetanus and strychhnine poisoning 3. Acute bacterial and viral infections. Rate of cooling is modified by following conditions: 1. Age and condition of the body 2. Mode of death 3. Surroundings 4. Environmental temperature
The clear glistening appearance of cornea is lost. Cornea becomes dry, cloudy and opaque. Corneal reflex is lost. Light reflex is abolished. Intraocular tension falls. Eyes becomes flaccid.
Cattle trucking occurs.

Pupils first dilate and then constrict due to rigor mortis. Taches noires appear on sclera within three hours of death
even if the eyes remain open. There are areas of brownish black discolouration. The potassium content of viterous humour rises readily.
Skin gets pale, ashy white.
Loses elasticity
Lips tend to darken.
Also known as postmortem staining and hypostasis.
It means discolouration of skin and organs due to
accumulation of blood. Appearance:
1-3 hrs
3-6hrs
A series of mottled patches on dependant parts. Patches increase in size and coalasce.
6-8hrs
Lividity is full developed and fixed.
Cause: Packing and complete stagnation of blood in the
distended toneless capillaries and small veins. Change in position before the fixation of lividity results in disapperance of patches. However change in position after fixation of lividity cause no effect on pattern of lividity. It is due to two reasons. 1. The blood cannot flow easily from distended toneless capillaries. 2. The tissues are already stained with hemoglobin.
Test to check fixation of lividity:
put pressure on a part of body by thumb. If thumb blanches the area, then lividity is not fixed but thumb doesnot blanch the area, the lividity is fixed.
hanging
drowning In moving water
Lower limbs, external genitalia, lower parts of hands and forearms.
Head and upper parts of body
Lividity does not develop
Lividity does not develop in those areas which are in
direct contact with the surface on which body is lying. Reason: compression of blood vessels by weight and pressure of the body. Misinterpretation areas of contact flattening can lead to serious errors.
Depend upon colour of blood and mode of death.
At first bluish pink then bluish purple.

In anemia and hemorrhage: faint In asphyxia : dark and purple
Better in fair skinned persons than dark tanned skin
persons.
Poison Carbon monoxide Cyanide Chlorates Phosphorus Nitrates Hydrogen sulphide opiates
Colour Cherry red Pink Chocolate brown Dark brown Red brown Bluish green Black
feature cause site margins colour swelling abrasion Microscopic appearance incision
lividity Engorgement of vessels Dependant parts Clearly defined uniform absent absent Blood components present in vessels, no inflammation Shows few oozing points
Bruise Vascular rupture Anywhere Irregular Variegated Present Present Blood components outside vessels, inflammation present Shows extravasated blood
Postmortem lividity Irregular, only in dependant parts Normal appearance of non dependant parts Hollow viscus show alternate stained and unstained areas
Congestion due to disease Involves the whole organ Pathological changes in organ evident Hollow viscus show uniform staining on stretching
Cut surface shows variegated appearance
Cut surface ooze bloods throughout
Sign of death 2. Position of body at time of death 3. Time since death 4. Cause of death
1.

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Known as Immediate death

Insensibility and loss of EEG rhythm 2. Cessation of circulation 3. Cessation of respiration

Known as early death.

It include following characteristics.

Known as algor mortis.

After death, balance between heat production and

In isothermic phase, there is no loss of body

In some conditions the temperature of the body

Cattle trucking occurs.

Skin gets pale, ashy white.

Also known as postmortem staining and hypostasis.

It means discolouration of skin and organs due to

accumulation of blood. Appearance:

Lividity is full developed and fixed.

Cause: Packing and complete stagnation of blood in the

Test to check fixation of lividity:

Lower limbs, external genitalia, lower parts of hands and forearms.

Head and upper parts of body

Lividity does not develop

Lividity does not develop in those areas which are in

Depend upon colour of blood and mode of death.

At first bluish pink then bluish purple.

Better in fair skinned persons than dark tanned skin

Cut surface shows variegated appearance

Cut surface ooze bloods throughout

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