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    Autopsy

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    Omar Jamil
    An autopsy, also known as a postmortem examination, is performed after death to determine the cause of death. Forensic pathologists, or medical examiners, conduct autopsies when the cause of death is suspicious, involves criminal action, is questionable, or involves death by homicide, drowning, or accidents like car crashes or in the case of a child's death. The manner of death can be natural, homicide, suicide, accident, or undetermined. Various signs are examined to determine the time of death including rigor mortis, livor mortis, algor mortis, ocular fluid levels, and stomach contents. Samples are taken of organs and tissues for analysis. The autopsy provides closure for families and aids

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    Autopsy

    Uploaded by

    Omar Jamil
    522 views26 pages
    An autopsy, also known as a postmortem examination, is performed after death to determine the cause of death. Forensic pathologists, or medical examiners, conduct autopsies when the cause of death is suspicious, involves criminal action, is questionable, or involves death by homicide, drowning, or accidents like car crashes or in the case of a child's death. The manner of death can be natural, homicide, suicide, accident, or undetermined. Various signs are examined to determine the time of death including rigor mortis, livor mortis, algor mortis, ocular fluid levels, and stomach contents. Samples are taken of organs and tissues for analysis. The autopsy provides closure for families and aids

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    An autopsy, also known as a postmortem examination, is performed after death to determine the cause of death. Forensic pathologists, or medical examiners, conduct autopsies when the cause of death is suspicious, involves criminal action, is questionable, or involves death by homicide, drowning, or accidents like car crashes or in the case of a child's death. The manner of death can be natural, homicide, suicide, accident, or undetermined. Various signs are examined to determine the time of death including rigor mortis, livor mortis, algor mortis, ocular fluid levels, and stomach contents. Samples are taken of organs and tissues for analysis. The autopsy provides closure for families and aids

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    522 views26 pages

    Autopsy

    Uploaded by

    Omar Jamil
    An autopsy, also known as a postmortem examination, is performed after death to determine the cause of death. Forensic pathologists, or medical examiners, conduct autopsies when the cause of death is suspicious, involves criminal action, is questionable, or involves death by homicide, drowning, or accidents like car crashes or in the case of a child's death. The manner of death can be natural, homicide, suicide, accident, or undetermined. Various signs are examined to determine the time of death including rigor mortis, livor mortis, algor mortis, ocular fluid levels, and stomach contents. Samples are taken of organs and tissues for analysis. The autopsy provides closure for families and aids

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 26

    AUTOPSY

    WHAT IS AN AUTOPSY?
    “See for yourself”

    A postmortem examination performed to


    determine cause of death.

    Forensic Pathologist, aka Medical


    Examiner
    WHY IS A FORENSIC AUTOPSY PREFORMED?
    Cause of death deemed suspicious or involves
    criminal action.
    Questionable death
    Homicide
    Drowning
    Auto Accidents
    Death of a child
    MANNER OF DEATH
    1. Natura l- heart failure, disease, death during sleep

    2. Homicide - killing of a human; murder

    3. Suicide - intentionally taking one’s own life

    4. Accident - if it can be avoided an investigation will take place

    5. Undetermined-unknown (autopsy required)


    CAUSE OF DEATH
    1. Blunt Force - damage to organs , bleeding (ex. Bat)

    2. Stabbing - excessive loss of blood or damage to organs

    3. Stroke - blockage in brain

    4. Hanging- lack of oxygen

    5. Drowning - lack of oxygen; water in lungs and stomach


    Which
    wound was
    caused by:
    stabbing,
    incision, &
    laceration?
    TIME OF DEATH
    1. Rigor Mortis - muscles stiffening between 24-36 hours

    2. Livor Mortis - settling of blood in areas of the body closest to the ground (skin appears dark blue or
    purple) Begins and continues for up to 12 hrs after death

    3. Algor Mortis - temp of the body cools until it reaches the surrounding temp (Begins 1hr after death & heat
    loss is 1-1.5 F per hour)

    4. Ocular Fluid/Vitreous Humor- measure the rate of potassium levels present at difference times of death

    5. Stomach Contents-amount of food in stomach can help estimate when last meal was eaten (a lot of food-1-
    2hrs)
    VITREOUS HUMOR
    Not much?
    = Dead longer…

    More Potassium?
    = Dead longer…
    Broken blood vessels?
    = likely strangulation
    LIVOR MORTIS
    ‘Color of Death’.
    Coloration of the skin.
     Death = the heart stops = blood stops cycling.
     Red blood cells, plasma gather on the bottom part of the body, closest to
    the floor.
     A line forms after 8 hours if the body hasn’t been moved. If moved, a new
    line forms.
     The thicker the line, the longer the body held that position.
    ALGOR MORTIS
    Defined as ‘Coolness of Death’.
    Temperature of body.
     In a controlled environment, stating at 98.6 degrees, the body will drop
    one degree per hour.
     This happens because at death, the respiratory system stops working, the
    body stops functioning, it is no longer moving.
     When taking the temperature of a corpse, you can’t take it in the mouth
    because the muscles will be relaxed and the tongue wont stay on top of the
    thermometer.
     Thinner people cool faster then fat people.
    RIGOR MORTIS
    Defined as ‘Stiffness of Death’.
    Flexibility of the body.
    2 hours after death
    Peaks 12 hours after death.
    Takes 12-24 hours for entire effect to take place.
    0 hours after death, the body is at its stiffest.
    The eyelids are affected first
    Ends after 24-36 hours.
    PALLOR MORTIS

    Defined as ‘Paleness of Death’.


    Tone of the body.
    15-20 minutes after death.
    Due to lack of capillary circulation in the body.
    BENEFITS OF AUTOPSY
    Discover cause of death for:
    Criminal cases
    Peace of mind for family
    Genetic disease or deformity
    Insurance claims
    Medical advancement
    AUTOPSY ROOM
    BODY BLOCK
    PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
    External
     Physical outer layer – for injuries / cause of death

    Internal
     Internal organs & tissue - evidence of disease, trauma, toxic substances, organ failure
    EXTERNAL EXAMINATION
    Sign of injury or mistreatment
    Sign of illness, disease, or abnormalities
    Photographed
    Samples taken
    Undressed, examined for wounds
     Lacerations, abrasions, bruises

    Measured, weighed, cleaned


    Trace Evidence
    INTERNAL EXAMINATION
    Steps of an internal examination.
    1. Incisions
    “Y” Behind each ear, down the neck, meet mid-sternum, continue
    to the groin.
     For suspected strangulation – 50% no ext. signs
     Show fractured HYOID bone
    “T” From each shoulder, meet top of sternum, continue to the groin.
     Better looking finished product
    INTERNAL EXAMINATION (CONT’D)
    Cuts
    Chest cavity cut open w/shears or saw.
    Removal
    Letulle’s “En Masse” method – All organs at once
    Ghon’s “En Bloc” method – Organs removed in sections
    Organs weighed, examined
    BRAIN EXAMINATION
    Incision: from behind ear, over top of head, to point behind the
    opposite ear.
    Scalp pulled away from the skull, forward and back. Front flap
    over the face, rear flap over the neck.
    Skull cut with electric saw creating a “bowl”
    Brain cut from spinal cord, lifted out of the skull for further
    examination.
    INTERNAL EXAMINATION (CONT’D)
    In addition Major Systems looked at
     Cardio-Vascular (Heart & Lungs)
     Central Nervous System (CNS)
    CLOSE UP
    1. Skull cap is replaced
    2. Skin pulled back in place
    3. Body Organs may or may not be replaced
    4. Incisions are sown up with the use of a
    baseball stitch
    DEATH CERTIFICATE
    IMPORTANCE
    It is an important legal document which certifies the death of a person.
    Explains the cause, manner, mode and time of death.
    Required before obtaining permission for cremation or burial from municipal
    authorities.
    A properly registered certificate is essential for claims of various dues like insurance,
    gratuity, provident fund, family pension, and accident benefit claims etc.
    For execution of the will of the deceased.
    Deletion of the name of the deceased person’s name from ration card, shares,
    movable and immovable properties, bank account etc.
    US

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