Post Mortem Changes

Jaroslava DuškováInst. Pathol. ,1st Med. Faculty,

Charles Univ., Prague

http://www1.lf1.cuni.cz/~jdusk/

General Pathology – Seminary 1a

irreversible arrest irreversible arrest

of integrated of integrated

organism functionsorganism functions

Death

Post Mortem Changes

physical : algor, pallor (paleness), hypostasis, diffusion of fluids & gases

chemical (enzymatic): rigor, blood coagulation, autolysis

biological: putrefaction

Post Mortem Changes – physical -1

algor – the body temperature levelled out with the surroundings

Post Mortem Changes – physical -2

pallor (paleness) circulation stop,

contraction of the vessels, esp. arteries

Post Mortem Changes – physical -3

hypostasis – gravitation effect

– cadaverous spots

Post Mortem Changes – physical -4

diffusion of fluids & gases – maceration

pseudomelanosis (Hb+ Hydrogen sulfid)

-verdohaemoglobin

Post Mortem Changes - chemical

(enzymatic) -1

rigor (stiffness, cadaverous rigidity)

consumption of macroergic compounds (ATP)

Post Mortem Changes - chemical

(enzymatic) -2

blood coagulation – tissue trombokinases, endothelium

autolysis

Post Mortem Changes - chemical

(enzymatic) -3

Autolysis – disruption of membranes, lost

compartmentalizationCell changes in autolysis:

loss of cytoplasm basophilia cytoplasm swelling, vacuolisation loss of nuclear stainability

(pyknosis, karyorrhexis, karyolysis)

Putrefaction & further cadaverous decompositions

putrefactive bacteriaputrefactive bacteria insectsinsectsworms etc.worms etc.

Post Mortem Changes - Meaning & Consequences

physicalphysical – important in medicojudical – important in medicojudical practice eg. algor practice eg. algor

time of deathtime of death

chemical chemical – interfering– interfering & limiting all & limiting all

special methods special methods biological biological – limiting even the – limiting even the

macroscopy examination macroscopy examination