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THE AUTOPSY. FORENSIC PATHOLOGY. MEDICAL EXAMINER or CORONER. Coroner- elected position, most not medical professionals, undertakers, politicians, required qualifications- US citizen, over 21 yo . Medical examiner- physicians, most not trained in forensic pathology. The Autopsy. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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THE AUTOPSYTHE AUTOPSY
FORENSIC PATHOLOGYFORENSIC PATHOLOGY
MEDICAL EXAMINER or MEDICAL EXAMINER or CORONERCORONER
Coroner- elected position, most not Coroner- elected position, most not medical professionals, undertakers, medical professionals, undertakers, politicians, required qualifications- politicians, required qualifications- US citizen, over 21 yo. US citizen, over 21 yo.
Medical examiner- physicians, most Medical examiner- physicians, most not trained in forensic pathologynot trained in forensic pathology
The AutopsyThe Autopsy
An autopsy is an examination of the An autopsy is an examination of the body after deathbody after death
Internal and external examsInternal and external exams Purpose is to document any disease Purpose is to document any disease
or injury that may have contributed or injury that may have contributed to the deathto the death
Overall purpose is to create an Overall purpose is to create an opinion regarding the cause and opinion regarding the cause and manner of death manner of death
When Forensic Pathology is When Forensic Pathology is AppliedApplied
violent deathsviolent deaths homicide homicide accidents accidents suicides suicides suspicious suspicious sudden and sudden and
unexpected unexpected child or infant child or infant
deathsdeaths
prisonersprisoners persons under persons under
institutional careinstitutional care drugs or alcohol drugs or alcohol deaths in close deaths in close
proximity to proximity to surgerysurgery
suspicion of public suspicion of public health threathealth threat
The AutopsyThe Autopsy USESUSES::
--establish COD, establish COD, MODMOD
TODTOD-weapon used-weapon used-find identity of -find identity of
deceaseddeceased-determining the -determining the
effect of trauma or effect of trauma or pre-existing pre-existing conditionsconditions
Manners of DeathManners of Death
Natural- dies of cancerNatural- dies of cancer Homicide- gunshot woundHomicide- gunshot wound Suicide- gunshot woundSuicide- gunshot wound Accident- fallen off an icy ladderAccident- fallen off an icy ladder UndeterminedUndetermined
Causes of Death/Causes of Death/Mechanism of DeathMechanism of Death
AsphyxiaAsphyxia– StrangulationStrangulation– DrowningDrowning– SmotheringSmothering
WoundsWounds– BulletBullet– StabStab– Blunt ForceBlunt Force– RapeRape– PoisoningPoisoning– BurnBurn– Traffic FatalitiesTraffic Fatalities
The AutopsyThe Autopsy Average a couple Average a couple
hourshours Performed in an M.E. Performed in an M.E.
or coroner’s officeor coroner’s office Performed normally Performed normally
8am-4pm, or 24hrs a 8am-4pm, or 24hrs a day, 7 days a week, day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.365 days a year.
Autopsies may cost Autopsies may cost from several hundred from several hundred to several thousand to several thousand dollars depending on dollars depending on purpose and types of purpose and types of tests run.tests run.
External ExamExternal Exam
EvidenceEvidence MeasurementsMeasurements PhotographsPhotographs Odor- cyanide (almond), alcoholOdor- cyanide (almond), alcohol Wounds, bruises, needle marks, Wounds, bruises, needle marks,
petechia petechia TattoosTattoos Rigidity, LividityRigidity, Lividity
TOD- Stages of TOD- Stages of DecompositionDecomposition
Rigor Mortis-Rigor Mortis- stiffening of muscles and body stiffening of muscles and body parts in position at death parts in position at death
Due to loss of ATP in muscle cellsDue to loss of ATP in muscle cells Begins 1-2 hours after deathBegins 1-2 hours after death Starts at top of body and proceeds downwardStarts at top of body and proceeds downward Complete within 8-12 hrsComplete within 8-12 hrs Muscles will relax as break down occurs, 24-Muscles will relax as break down occurs, 24-
36hr36hr Environment affects rateEnvironment affects rate
TOD- Stages of TOD- Stages of DecompositionDecomposition
Livor Mortis-Livor Mortis- blood settling down towards blood settling down towards areas closest to the groundareas closest to the ground
Determine position at death (death-12 Determine position at death (death-12 h)h)
Red Blood Cells settle and break down in Red Blood Cells settle and break down in tissues (bruising), (1-2 hrs)tissues (bruising), (1-2 hrs)
Fixed then death > 10 hrsFixed then death > 10 hrs Not Fixed then death (skin turns white Not Fixed then death (skin turns white
when pressure applied) < 10 hrswhen pressure applied) < 10 hrs
TOD- Stages of TOD- Stages of DecompositionDecomposition
Algor Mortis-Algor Mortis- body loses heat after body loses heat after death, ~ 1-1.5 F (.4 -.75 C)/hr until death, ~ 1-1.5 F (.4 -.75 C)/hr until environmental temp. reachedenvironmental temp. reached
Affected by environment, body fat, Affected by environment, body fat, clothingclothing
TODTOD Ocular Fluid (vitreous Ocular Fluid (vitreous
humor)-humor)- after death after death blood cells in eye blood cells in eye break open and break open and release potassium, release potassium, amt of K present can amt of K present can indicate TODindicate TOD
Open eyes- eyes dry, Open eyes- eyes dry, cloudy film, 2-3 hrs. cloudy film, 2-3 hrs. after deathafter death
Closed eyes- ~24 hrsClosed eyes- ~24 hrs
TODTOD
Stomach Contents-Stomach Contents- digestion of last digestion of last mealmeal
Full undigested Full undigested meal : 2-4 hrsmeal : 2-4 hrs
Stomach empty, SI Stomach empty, SI full: 4-6 hrsfull: 4-6 hrs
Small Intestine Small Intestine empty- > 12 hrs empty- > 12 hrs
TODTOD
Insect Infestation-Insect Infestation- stage of life cycle stage of life cycle of insects on DB is indicative of TODof insects on DB is indicative of TOD
““The blowfly is the first “witness” to The blowfly is the first “witness” to arrive at the crime scene”arrive at the crime scene”
The pathologist first examines the outside of the body. A great The pathologist first examines the outside of the body. A great deal can be learned in this way. Many pathologists use deal can be learned in this way. Many pathologists use
scalpels with rulers marked on their blades.scalpels with rulers marked on their blades.
The body is opened using a The body is opened using a Y-shaped incision from Y-shaped incision from shoulders to mid-chest and shoulders to mid-chest and down to the pubic region. If down to the pubic region. If the head is to be opened, the head is to be opened, the pathologist makes a the pathologist makes a second incision across the second incision across the head, joining the bony head, joining the bony prominences just below and prominences just below and behind the ears. When this behind the ears. When this is sewed back up, it will be is sewed back up, it will be concealed by the pillow on concealed by the pillow on which the dead person's which the dead person's head rests. head rests.
The pathologist uses a The pathologist uses a scalpel for these incisions. scalpel for these incisions. There is almost no bleeding, There is almost no bleeding, since a dead body has no since a dead body has no blood pressure except that blood pressure except that produced by gravity.produced by gravity.
The incisions are carried down toThe incisions are carried down to the skull, the rib cage and the skull, the rib cage and breastbone, and the cavity which contains the organs of the breastbone, and the cavity which contains the organs of the abdomen. The scalp and the soft tissues in front of the chest abdomen. The scalp and the soft tissues in front of the chest are then reflected back. Again, the pathologist looks around are then reflected back. Again, the pathologist looks around
for any abnormalities.for any abnormalities.
The pathologist weighs The pathologist weighs both lungs together, both lungs together, then each one then each one separately. Afterwards, separately. Afterwards, the lungs may get the lungs may get inflated with fixative inflated with fixative
The rest of the team is The rest of the team is continuing with the continuing with the removal of the other removal of the other organs. They have organs. They have decided to take the decided to take the urinary system as one urinary system as one piece, and the digestive piece, and the digestive system down to the system down to the small intestine as small intestine as another single piece. another single piece. This will require careful This will require careful dissection dissection
Autopsy VideosAutopsy Videos
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/03/070313-autopsy-video.html2007/03/070313-autopsy-video.html
http://investigation.discovery.com/investigation/http://investigation.discovery.com/investigation/quiz-central/dna-forensics/autopsies.htmlquiz-central/dna-forensics/autopsies.html
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/972837/972837/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OErkBJ8Ha4http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OErkBJ8Ha4
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