Autopsy
A post mortem examination performed on a corpse to determine the
cause and manor of death
Necropsy
To look at the dead
Death
The cessation or end of life
Cause of death
The reason someone dies
Mechanism of death
Describes the scientific change in the body that brought about the
cessation of life
Sepsis
Infection of blood stream
Exsanguination
Bleeding to death
Cerebral Contusion
Brain trauma
Intra-cerebral Contusion
Brain bleeding
Asphyxia
Stop breathing
Pulmonary Arrest
the cessation of breathing due to failure of the lungs to function effectively.
Cardiac Arrest
a sudden, sometimes temporary, cessation of function of the heart.
Cessation
the fact or process of ending or being brought to an end.
Deaths 5 categories
Natural Accident Homicide
Suicide Unknown
Natural Death
Death under normal circumstances
Accidental Death
A death that is often caused by mistake or in a freak occurrence.
These deaths are not planned yet can be explained by surrounding circumstances.
Homicidal Death
The killing of another person
Suicidal Death
The act of ending ones own life
Infanticide
Killing of an infant
Fratricide
Killing of ones brother; in a military context, killing of a friendly combatant
Sororicide
Killing of ones sister
Parricide
Killing of ones parents
Patricide
Killing of ones father
Matricide
Killing of ones mother
Uxorixide
Killing of ones wife
Mariticide
Killing of ones spouse
Filicide
Killing of ones child
Regicide
Killing of a monarch
Genocide
Killing of a national,ethnic,racial, or religious group
Livor Mortis
Death coloration
Rigor Mortis
Muscle stiffness
Algor Mortis
Body temperature
Factors that determine the time of death
Livor Mortis Rigor Mortis Algor Mortis
Stomach and intestinal contents Insects Eye
solidity
Lividity
Pooling of blood
The body is most rigid after
12 hours
Stiffness disappears after how many hours?
Generally 36 but dependent on weight and ambient temperature can last
up to 48 hours
What is the average body temperature
98.6 degrees F and 37 degrees Celsius
The body is warm to the touch up until how many hours after death?
3 hours
The body is cool to the touch around how many hours?
4-6 hours
The body is the temperature of its environment after how many hours?
24 hours
Rule of thumb
Heat loss = 1 degree F per hour
How many hours does it take for the stomach to empty its contents
into the small intestine?
4-6 hours for the contents to travel
How many hours does it take for food to leave the small intestine?
12 hours for the contents to leave
How many hours approximately does it take for all undigested food to
be released from the large intestine starting from the time when a
meal is eaten?
24 hours until contents are leave
3 hours after death the eyes become...
Softer as a result of less fluid pressure
Petechial Hemorrhages
The formation of tiny red dots on the eye's upper white part and the
inside of the eyelid.