The Postmortem The Postmortem Examination (Autopsy): Examination (Autopsy): The External, or Visual, The External, or Visual,

ExaminationExamination

The Autopsy: IntroductionThe Autopsy: Introduction Starts with a description of the deceased’s Starts with a description of the deceased’s

clothing, photographs (including close-ups) of clothing, photographs (including close-ups) of the body both clothed and unclothed, and a the body both clothed and unclothed, and a detailed examination of the entire bodydetailed examination of the entire body

Any trauma is noted on a form where the Any trauma is noted on a form where the pathologist can make notes, sketches, or pathologist can make notes, sketches, or record measurements; damage to clothing record measurements; damage to clothing should correlate to trauma in the same area should correlate to trauma in the same area on the bodyon the body

Gunshot wounds are recorded, for example, Gunshot wounds are recorded, for example, to indicate entrance and exits wounds and to indicate entrance and exits wounds and the path of the bullet through the bodythe path of the bullet through the body

The Autopsy: IntroductionThe Autopsy: Introduction Defensive wounds that are trauma caused Defensive wounds that are trauma caused

by the victim trying to defend himself or by the victim trying to defend himself or herself against an attacker are also notedherself against an attacker are also noted

When the clothing is removed, care is taken When the clothing is removed, care is taken to preserve any trace evidence that may be to preserve any trace evidence that may be later submitted to a forensic science later submitted to a forensic science laboratorylaboratory

Wet clothes are suspended to air-dry at Wet clothes are suspended to air-dry at room temperatureroom temperature

Folding wet clothes may alter important Folding wet clothes may alter important evidence patterns, such as blood stains, evidence patterns, such as blood stains, and promote growth of bacteria (which can and promote growth of bacteria (which can damage potential DNA evidencedamage potential DNA evidence

The Autopsy: IntroductionThe Autopsy: Introduction

The age, sex, ancestry, height, The age, sex, ancestry, height, weight, state of nourishment, and weight, state of nourishment, and any birth-related abnormalities are any birth-related abnormalities are noted during the external examnoted during the external exam

The body is also checked for death-The body is also checked for death-related phenomena that may provide related phenomena that may provide information to the investigationinformation to the investigation

Rigor MortisRigor Mortis

The stiffening of the body after death due The stiffening of the body after death due to the membranes of muscle cells to the membranes of muscle cells becoming more permeable to calcium ionsbecoming more permeable to calcium ions

Living muscle cells expend energy to Living muscle cells expend energy to transport calcium ions outside the cells; transport calcium ions outside the cells; calcium plays a crucial role in muscle calcium plays a crucial role in muscle contractioncontraction

Without this calcium transport, the muscle Without this calcium transport, the muscle fibers continue to contract until they are fibers continue to contract until they are fully contractedfully contracted

Rigor MortisRigor Mortis

The muscles release only when the tissues The muscles release only when the tissues begin to decomposebegin to decompose

Onset begins two to six hours after death, Onset begins two to six hours after death, starting in the smaller muscles and starting in the smaller muscles and eventually affecting even the largest oneseventually affecting even the largest ones

The stiffness remains for two to three days The stiffness remains for two to three days and then diminishes in reverse orderand then diminishes in reverse order

The rate of rigor mortis depends on The rate of rigor mortis depends on activity before death and the ambient activity before death and the ambient temperature; these must be taken into temperature; these must be taken into account by the pathologist when account by the pathologist when estimating a time since deathestimating a time since death

Livor MortisLivor Mortis

Aka post mortem lividityAka post mortem lividity It is the settling of blood due to It is the settling of blood due to

gravity after the heart no longer gravity after the heart no longer circulates it through the bodycirculates it through the body

Results in a purplish discoloration in Results in a purplish discoloration in the skinthe skin

The blood vessels are not reaching The blood vessels are not reaching the lungs to be oxygenated and the the lungs to be oxygenated and the settled blood takes on a bluish tone settled blood takes on a bluish tone

Livor MortisLivor Mortis

This is not true of people who have This is not true of people who have died from poisons or substances that died from poisons or substances that alter the color of the blood (for ex – alter the color of the blood (for ex – CO, which colors the blood bright, CO, which colors the blood bright, cherry red)cherry red)

Lividity begins to set in about an Lividity begins to set in about an hour after death and peaks in about hour after death and peaks in about 3 or 4 hours3 or 4 hours

Livor MortisLivor Mortis

The blood settles in accordance with The blood settles in accordance with gravity and, once coagulated, does gravity and, once coagulated, does not movenot move

The only exception to this is where The only exception to this is where pressure is appliedpressure is applied

Lividity can indicate whether a body Lividity can indicate whether a body has been moved (the pattern of has been moved (the pattern of lividity does not match the position lividity does not match the position of the body as it was foundof the body as it was found

PetechiaePetechiae

Pinpoint hemorrhages found around the eyes, Pinpoint hemorrhages found around the eyes, the lining of the mouth and throat, as well as the lining of the mouth and throat, as well as other areas, often seen in strangulation other areas, often seen in strangulation victimsvictims

They are not conclusive evidence of They are not conclusive evidence of strangulation or asphyxiation because other strangulation or asphyxiation because other phenomena, such as heart attacks or phenomena, such as heart attacks or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, can induce cardiopulmonary resuscitation, can induce themthem

Aka – Tardieu spots after the doctor who first Aka – Tardieu spots after the doctor who first described themdescribed them

Other Areas Examined During Other Areas Examined During AutopsyAutopsy

The inside of the mouth area and oral The inside of the mouth area and oral cavity are also examined for trauma, cavity are also examined for trauma, trace evidence, and indications of trace evidence, and indications of diseasedisease