Post on 24-Feb-2016
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Why is a Forensic Autopsy preformed?
What is an Autopsy?
Discover cause of death for: Criminal cases Family peace of mind Genetic disease or
deformity
Insurance claimsMedical
advancement
Benefits of Autopsy
Cause of Death v. Manner of Death
• Accidental• Undetermined
Photographs taken or body in original, found state Hands wrapped in plastic bags for later evidence
collection Body temperature, lividity, and decomposition level
measured Body placed in bag or wrapped in evidence sheet for
transport.
At the crime scene
External ExaminationSteps of an external examination.1. Photographs, X-rays.• Signs of injury or mistreatment• Signs of illness, disease, or
abnormalities2. Physical evidence collected off
body.3. Samples of hair, nails, etc. are
collected.4. Identifying marks (i.e. scars,
tattoos)5. Undressed, examined for
wounds.• Lacerations, abrasions, bruises.
6. Measured, weighed, cleaned.
Physical Examination
Livor MortisDefined as ‘Colour of Death’. Coloration of the skin.
Physical ExaminationExternal Examination
Defined as ‘Coolness of Death’. Temperature of body. If within 12 hours:
Time of death (hrs) = 37oC – current body temp/0.78
Over 12 hours:Time of death = 27.64- current temp/0.39 + 12
• Thinner people cool faster then fat people.
Algor Mortis
Defined as ‘Paleness of Death’. Tone of the body.
Pallor Mortis
Physical Examination
Defined as ‘Stiffness of Death’. Flexibility of the body.• Shows up 2 hours after death• Peaks 12 hours after death.• Takes 12-24 hours for entire rigor
mortis effect to take place.• The eyelids are affected first, the
jaw, face, trunk, arms, legs.• Ends after 24-36 hours.
Rigor Mortis
Explaining rigor mortishttp://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct8AbZn_A8A
Approximate times for algor and rigor mortis in temperate regions
Body temperature
Body stiffness Time since death
warm not stiff dead not more than three hours
warm stiff dead 3 to 8 hourscold stiff dead 8 to 36
hourscold not stiff dead more than
36 hoursSOURCE: Stærkeby, M. "What Happens after Death?" In the University of Oslo Forensic Entomology [web site]. Available from http://folk.uio.no/mostarke/forens_ent/afterdeath.shtml The time frame for all stages is greatly dependent on surrounding conditions such as temperature and humidity.
Physical ExaminationExternal Examination
Lacerations
Types of Wounds (Trauma)1. Lacerations2. Incised
Wound3. Puncture4. Abrasion5. Contusion6. Gunshot
Physical Examination
Abrasions
ContusionsColour changes a bruise
goes through can give rough estimate of time of injury• Dark blue/purple (1-18
hours)• Blue/brown (~1 to
2days)• Green (~ 2 to 3 days)• Yellow (~3 to 7 days)Assumes person is healthy.
Gunshot WoundsThings for pathologist to learn:• type of firearm• distance of gun to
victim• entrance vs exit
wounds• track of projectile
Starring of a contact wound – barrel touching the skin
Stippling – powder burns on the skin when the gun is inches to a few feet from the victim
Opening the Chest Y shaped cut The chest cavity is cut open using shears. Skin & underlying tissue (muscle, fat, etc.) are then
separated The ribs are sawed away
Removal of Organs
Physical ExaminationInternal Examination
Examples of disease that may produce changes readily recognizable in the organs include atherosclerosis, cirrhosis of the liver, and coronary artery disease in the heart
Two methods for organ removal:• Rokitansky procedure: all
organs removed at once• Virchow procedure: each
organ removed separately and immediately examined
Rokitansky Method
All removed organs are now weighed and examined for unusual markings or signs. Vitreous Humor
• The levels of vitreous humor in the corpses eye tells us how long the victim been dead.
Physical Examination
Brain Examination An incision is made from a point
behind one ear, over the top of the head, to a point behind the opposite ear.
The scalp is pulled away from the skull, creating two flaps.
Physical ExaminationInternal Examination
The skull is then cut with a vibrating electric saw The brain is then cut from the spinal cord The spinal cord may also be taken by removing the
anterior or posterior portion of the spinal column.
Two methods of cutting the skull cap
• Brain is so soft it must be placed in 10% formaldehyde solution for 1-2 weeks before an in depth examination
Physical ExaminationInternal Examination
Closure
Performance of an autopsy does not interfere with an open casket funeral service