Postmortem changes

Postmortem changes 1

Forensic Taphonomy

(“taphos”=grave ; “nomos”=law)

2

Signs of death INSENSIBILITY & LOSS OF VOLUNTARY POWER

CESSATION OF RESPIRATION

CESSATION OF CIRCULATION

3

4

5

Postmortem lividity (/staining/hypostasis)(LIVOR MORTIS/SUGGILATION/VIBICES)

(D)

6

7

TIME OF APPEARANCE:

DISTRIBUTION:

OCCURENCE TIME

APPEARANCE in small

patches(1-2 cm in diameter )

1-2 hrs in plethorics .

1-4 hrs in anemics .

WELL-MARKED 4-6 hrs

FIXATION 6-8 hrs

POSTURE SITES

SUPINE NECK ENTIRE BACK FLANKS & SIDES OF NECK .

PRONE LOOSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE IN FRONT(COLOR IS

INTENSE) & TARDIEU SPOTS ARE COMMON .

CONGESTION NASAL BLEEDING

LYING ON ONE SIDE BLOOD WILL SETTLE ON THAT SIDE .

INVERTED(DRUNKEN) HEAD & NECK .

CONJUNCTIVAL HEMORRHAGE .

UPRIGHT(HANGING) LEGS,EXTERNAL GENITALIA , LOWER PART OF

FOREARM , HAND.

DROWNING FACE , UPPER CHEST , HANDS , LOWER ARMS , FEET &

CALVES .

8

9

Cadaveric spasm

10

Rigor mortis

11

12

13

MOLECULAR MECHANISM OF CONTRACTION IN RIGOR MORTIS CONDITION

14

ALGOR MORTIS(COOLING OF BODY)

15

POST MORTEM CALORICITY

16

17

DECOMPOSITION

18

STAGES OF PUTREFACTION

19

Adipocere formation

20

SKELETONISATION

21

Mummification

22

BIBLIOGRAPHY

23

24

25