1. Kinds of Death(a) Somatic or Clinical Death – persistence of vital functions(b) Molecular or Cellular Death – 3 to six hours after cessation of life(c) Apparent or State of Suspended Animation – transient loss of consciousness

2. Signs of Death(a) Cessation of Heart Action and Circulation(b) Cessation of Respiration(c) Cooling of the Body(d) Loss of Motor Power(e) Loss of Sensory Power(f) Changes in the Skin(g) Changes in and about the Eye

3. Duration of Death(a) Presence of Rigor Mortis(b) Presence of Post-Mortem Lividity(c) Onset of Decomposition(d) Stage of Decomposition(e) Entomology of the Cadaver(f) Stage of Digestion(g) Present of Live Flies in the clothing(h) State of Clothings(i) Changes in the Cerebro-Spinal Fluid(j) Blood Clots

4. Presumption of Death(a) Disputable Presumption – not heard in 7 years(b) Presumption of Death

i. Absence of 7 years except succession 10 years ii. Vessel, Armed Forces, In danger of Death – 4 years

5. Presumption of Survivorship(a) under 15 – older survives(b) above 60 – younger survives(c) under 15 : above 60 – former survives(d) over 15 : under 60 - male or older survives(e) under 15 and over 60 AND an in between – latter survives

6. Euthanasia(a) A Good Death(b) Refers to the practice of ending life in a painless manner(c) Deliberate intervention undertaken with express intention of ending life(d) Classification

i. Voluntary – conducted with consent ii. Involuntary – conducted without consent iii. Passive – entails withholding of common treatments iv. Active – use of lethal substances or forces

7. Judicial Death 8. Medico Legal Investigation of Death 9. Medico Legal Post-Mortem Examination 10. Methods of Disposal of the Dead Body 11. Changes in the Body Following Death 12. Changes in the Muscles following Death

(a) Stage of Primary Flaccidity(b) Stage of Post-Mortem Rigidity(c) Stage of Secondary Flaccidity

2. Physical Characteristics of Post-Mortem Lividity(a) occurs in the most extensive areas of the most dependent portions of the body(b) involves the superficial layer of the skin(c) does not appear elevated from the rest of the skin(d) color is uniform but the may become greenish at the start of decomposition(e) no injury of the skin

3. Marbolization (Hypostasis) – is the prominence of the superficial veins with reddish discoloration during process of decomposition which develops on both flanks of the abdomen, root of neck and shoulder and which make the are look like a “marbled” reticule of branching veins.

4. Putrefaction – is the breaking down of the complex proteins into simpler components associated with the evolution of foul smelling gasses accompanied by the change of color of the body.

5. Internal and External Factors modifying the Rate of Putrefaction(a) Internal

i. Age – Healthy adults decompose later than Infants. ii. Condition of the Body – Full-grown and highly obese persons decompose more rapidly than skinny ones. iii. Cause of Death – Bodies of persons whose cause of death is due to infection decompose rapidly.

(b) External i. Free Air – the Accessibility to the body, moisture, condition, temperature, light ii. Earth – dry absorbent soil iii. Water – decomposition in running water is faster iv. Clothings -

6. Adipocere Formation - a waxy substance formed during decomposition of dead animal bodies, consisting mainly of insoluble salts of fatty acids.

7.