Signs of death.pptx

8/14/2019 Signs of death.pptx

1/22


2/22


3/22

Known as Immediate death

It includes

1. Insensibility and loss of EEG rhythm

2. Cessation of circulation3. Cessation of respiration


4/22

Temporary suspension of heart beat and respiratory rate.

The vital functions get so low that they cannot be observedthrough clinical examination.

Involuntary causes:

1. Drowning

2. General anesthesia3. Electrocution

4. Heat stroke

5. Mesemeric tone

6. Prolonged illness7. Deep shock

Voluntarily yogis can lead themselves to suspendedanimation.


5/22

Known as early death.

It include following characteristics.

1. Cooling of body

2. Changes in skin3. Changes in eyes

4. Postmortem lividity

5. Changes in muscles


6/22

Known as algor mortis. After death, balance between heat production and

heat loss gets lost. Heat production ceases while heatloss 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


7/22

In isothermic phase, there is no loss of bodytemperature.

The rate of cooling is not uniform.

In first 2 hours, the average rate of fall of temperatureis half of the temperature between body and thesurroundings.

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:20Initial loss: 38-22=16/2=8C

After 2 hrs: 8/2=4C

In next hours: 8/4=2C


8/22

In some conditions the temperature of the bodyincreases. This increase in temperature is known aspostmortem 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


9/22

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.


10/22

Skin gets pale, ashy white.

Loses elasticity

Lips tend to darken.


11/22


12/22

Also known as postmortem staining and hypostasis.

It means discolouration of skin and organs due toaccumulation of blood.

Appearance:

A series of mottled patches on dependantparts.1-3 hrs

Patches increase in size and coalasce.3-6hrs Lividity is full developed and fixed.6-8hrs


13/22

Cause: Packing and complete stagnation of blood in thedistended toneless capillaries and small veins.

Change in position before the fixation of lividity resultsin disapperance of patches.

However change in position after fixation of lividitycause no effect on pattern of lividity. It is due to tworeasons.

1. The blood cannot flow easily from distended tonelesscapillaries.

2. The tissues are already stained with hemoglobin.


14/22

Test to check fixation of lividity:

put pressure on a part of body by thumb.

If thumb blanches the area, then lividity is not fixedbut thumb doesnot blanch the area, the lividity is fixed.


15/22

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

Head and upper parts of bodydrowning

Lividity does not developIn movingwater


16/22

Lividity does not develop in those areas which are indirect contact with the surface on which body is lying.

Reason: compression of blood vessels by weight andpressure of the body.

Misinterpretation areas of contact flattening can leadto serious errors.


17/22

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.


18/22

ColourPoisonCherry redCarbon monoxide

PinkCyanideChocolate brownChlorates

Dark brownPhosphorusRed brownNitrates

Bluish greenHydrogen sulphideBlackopiates


19/22

BruiselividityfeatureVascular ruptureEngorgement of vesselscause

AnywhereDependant partssiteIrregular

Clearly defined

margins

Variegateduniformcolour

PresentabsentswellingPresentabsentabrasion

Blood components outsidevessels, inflammation

presentBlood components present in

vessels, no inflammationMicroscopicappearance

Shows extravasated bloodShows few oozing pointsincision


20/22

Congestion due to diseasePostmortem lividityInvolves the whole organIrregular, only in dependant parts

Pathological changes in organ evidentNormal appearance of non dependantparts

Hollow viscus show uniform staining onstretchingHollow viscus show alternate stainedand unstained areas

Cut surface ooze bloods throughoutCut surface shows variegatedappearance


21/22

1. Sign of death

2. Position of body at time of death

3. Time since death

4. Cause of death


22/22

Signs of death.pptx

Documents