Legal Medicine Notes

Abortion - is the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from

the uterus of a fetus or embryo before viability.

Algor mortis (Latin: algor - coldness; mortis - death is the reduction in body
temperature follo!ing death.

"igor
"igor morti
mortis
s (L
(Lati
atin:
n: rigor
rigor - sti#n
sti#ness
ess$$ morti
mortis
s - death%
death% is one
one of the
recogn
recogni&ab
i&able
le signs of death$ caused
caused by chemical
chemical changes
changes in the muscles
muscles
after death$ causing the limbs of the corpse to become sti# and di'cult to
move or manipulate.

mportance )f "igor Mortis

- "igor mortis is utili&ed to approximate
approximate the time of death. *enerali&ed
*enerali&ed
muscular contractions occur from + to , hours until +, hours.

Autopsy - a post-mortem examination to discover the cause of death or the

extent of disease. Autopsy is derived from the *ree !ord %autos% - oneself 
and %opsis% - sightvie!.

/ho are authori&ed to perform autopsy

0. 1ealth o'cers
2. Medical o'cer of la! enforcement agencies
+. Members of the medical sta# of accredited hospitals

/hen Autopsy performed

0. /ritten re3uest of nearest in to ascertain cause of death
2. )rder of competent court$ mayor$ prosecutor
+. /ritten re3uest of a la! enforcement o'cer
4. /hen re3uired by special la!
5. 6olgen$ prosecutor to determine cause of death

7rincipal Aim of an Autopsy

0. 8o determine the cause of death
2. 8o determine the state of health of the person before he or she died$
+. 8o determine
determine !hether any medical diagnosis and treatment
treatment before
before
death !as appropriate.

8ypes of Autopsies
Autop sies
0. Medico-Legal
Medico-Legal Autopsy or 9orensic
9orensic or coroners
coroners - autopsies see to nd
the cause and manner of death and to identify the decedent.
2. <lini
<linical
cal or 7atholo
athologi
gical
cal autop
autopsie
sies
s are
are perfor
performed
med to diagn
diagnose
ose a
particular disease or for research purposes.
+. Anatomi
Anatomicalcal or Academ
Academic ic Autopsie
Autopsiess - are
are perform
performed
ed by students
students of 
anatomy for study purpose only.
 4. =irtual or Medical maging Autopsies - are performed utili&ing imaging
technology only$ primarily magnetic resonance imaging (M" and computed
tomography (<8.

9orensic Autopsy - is used to determine the cause and manner of death.

Anatomy - the branch of science concerned !ith the bodily structure of 
humans$ animals$ and other living organisms$ especially as revealed by
dissection and the separation of parts.

>iochemistry - the branch of science concerned !ith the chemical and

physico-chemical processes and substances !hich occur !ithin living
organisms.

<adaveric 6pasm - also no!n as postmortem spasm$ instantaneous rigor$

cataleptic rigidity$ or instantaneous rigidity$ is a rare form of muscular
sti#ening that occurs at the moment of death$ persists into the period of 
rigor mortis and can be mistaen for rigor mortis.

<adaveric spasm occurs immediately after death and is useful to

ascertain the circumstances of death.

<erebral <oncussion ? there is a brief loss of consciousness and sometimes

memory after ahead in@ury that doesnt cause obvious physical damage.

<erebral <ontusion ? they are bruises to the brain$ usually caused by a

direct$ strong blo! to the head. 8hey are more serious than concussions.

<irculatory 6ystem - also called the cardiovascular system$ is an organ

system that permits blood to circulate and transport nutrients (such as
amino acids and electrolytes$ oxygen$ carbon dioxide$ hormones$ and blood
cells to and from cells in the body to nourish it and help to ght diseases$
stabili&e body temperature and p1$ and to maintain homeostasis.

<ontempt of <ourt - any !illful disobedience to or disregard of a court order

or any misconduct in the presence of a court action that interferes !ith a
 @udges ability to administer @ustice or that insults the dignity of the court.
7unishable by ne or imprisonment or both.

<ontusion - also called a bruise$ is a type of hematoma of tissue in !hich

capillaries and sometimes venules are damaged by trauma$ allo!ing blood to
seep$ hemorrhage$ or extravasate into the surrounding interstitial tissues.

Beath - <omplete cessation of all cardio- pulmonary (heart-lungs andor

cessation of brain activity.
Beath is the termination of all biological functions that sustain a living
organism.

Cinds of Beath
0. 6omatic or <linical Beath - permanent cessation of all vital bodily
functions.
2. Molecular or <ellular Beath - refers to the death of cells. + to , hours
after cessation of life.
+. Apparent death or 6tate of 6uspended Animation - a state in !hich the
processes of the body (such as blood circulationstop or become very slo!
for a period of time !hile a person or animal is unconscious.

Leading <auses of Beath n 8he /orld

0. schaemic heart disease
2. 6troe (cerebrovascular diseases
+. Lo!er respiratory infections
4. <hronic )bstructive Lung Bisease

6igns )f Beath
0. <essation of heart action and circulation
2. <essation of respiration
+. <ooling of the body (Algor Mortis - 8he temperature of 05?2D degrees
9ahrenheit is considered as ascertain sign of death.
4. Loss of motor po!er
5. Loss of sensory po!er
,. <hanges in the sin
E. <hanges in and about the eye - 8here is loss of corneal reFex

Beclaration of 8oyo - is a set of international guidelines for physicians

concerning torture and other cruel$ inhuman or degrading treatment or
punishment in relation to detention and imprisonment$ !hich !as adopted in
)ctober 0GE5 during the 2Gth *eneral assembly of the /orld Medical
Association.

BeForation - is the laceration or rupture of the hymen as a result of sexual

intercourse.

Bermis - the thic layer of living tissue belo! the epidermis !hich forms the
true sin$ containing blood capillaries$ nerve endings$ s!eat glands$ hair
follicles$ and other structures.

Bigestive 6ystem - digestive system is a group of organs !oring together to

convert food into energy and basic nutrients to feed the entire body.

Br. 7edro 7. 6olis - 7hilippines father of Legal Medicine.

Hcchymosis - a discoloration of the sin resulting from bleeding underneath$
typically caused by bruising.

Hndocrine 6ystem - refers to the collection of glands of an organism that

secrete hormones directly into the circulatory system to be carried to!ards a
distant target organ.

Hpidermis - the outermost layer of the sin of a human or other vertebrate

animal.

Huthanasia - Meaning good death (!ell or good $ "efers to the practice of 
ending life in a painless manner. Beliberate intervention undertaen !ith the
express intention of ending life$ to relieve intractable su#ering.

Hxcretory 6ystem - is a passive biological system that removes excess$

unnecessary materials from an organism$ so as to help maintain homeostasis
!ithin the organism and prevent damage to the body.

1omeostasis -means remaining stable or remaining the same.

9irearm identication - used to determine !hether the gun that is sub@ect of 
the investigation has the same gun used or red.

9orensic Medicine - application of medical science to elucidate legal

problems.

9orensic 6cience - involves the application of the sciences to ans!er

3uestions of interest to the legal system.

9our 4 6igns of nFammation

0. "ubor - redness
2. <alor - heat
+. 8umor - s!elling
4. Bulor - pain

9racture - comes from the Latin !ord IfracturaJ !hich means a brea in the
continuity of the bone. t is also a combination of a brea in the bone and
soft tissue in@ury.

9rostbite - in@ury to body tissues caused by exposure to extreme cold$

typically a#ecting the nose$ ngers$ or toes and often resulting in gangrene.

9rostnip - the initial stages of frostbite.

*ynecology - the branch of physiology and medicine !hich deals !ith the
functions and diseases specic to !omen and girls$ especially those a#ecting
the reproductive system.

1ematoma - is a collection of blood outside of a blood vessel.

ncision - a surgical cut made in sin or Fesh.

n@ury - is the damage to a biological organism caused by physical harm.

<oup n@ury - in@ury at the site of application of force.

<ontre-<oup n@ury - in@ury opposite the site of application of force.

<oup-<onre-<oup n@ury - in@ury at the site and opposite the site of 
application of force.

Locus Minoris "esistentiae - in@ury not at the site and not opposite the
site of application of force but at the site o#ering least resistance.

Hxtensive n@ury - in@ury on greater area more than the site of application
of force.

ntegumentary system - is the organ system that protects the body from
various inds of damage$ such as loss of !ater or abrasion from outside. 8he
system comprises the sin and its appendages$ including
hair$ scales$ feathers$ hooves$ and nails.

Laceration - a deep cut or tear in sin or Fesh. A !ound that is produced by

the tearing of soft body tissue. 8his type of !ound is often irregular and
 @agged.

La&arus 6yndrome - is also called La&arus 7henomenon$ is the spontaneous

return of circulation after failed attempts at resuscitation.

La&arus 6ign - or La&arus reFex is a reFex movement in brain dead patients$

!hich causes them to brieFy raise their arms and drop them crossed on their
chests.

Legal Medicine - >ranch of medicine !hich deals !ith the application of 
medical no!ledge to the purpose of la! and in the administration of @ustice.
Application of medicine to legal cases.

Livor Mortis - is a settling of the blood in the lo!er (dependent portion of the
body$ causing a purplish red discoloration of the sin.
beneath the sin collects near the surface of the sin to appear as !hat !e
recogni&e as a blac and blue mar. <ause by a blunt in@ury to the tissues
!hich damage blood vessels beneath the surface$ allo!ing blood to
extravasate or lea into the surrounding tissues.
+. ncised /ound - caused by a clean$ sharp-edged ob@ect such as a nife$
ra&or$ or glass splinter.
4. 6tab /ound - is a specic form of penetrating trauma to the sin that
results from a nife or a similar pointed ob@ect that is %deeper than it is
!ide%.
5. 7unctured /ound - is a deep !ound caused by something sharp and
pointed$ lie a nail. 8he opening on the sin is small$ and the puncture !ound
may not bleed much. 7uncture !ounds can easily become infected.
,. 7erforating /ound - a !ound !ith an entrance and exit opening.
E. Lacerated /ound - that occurs !hen sin$ tissue$ andor muscle is torn
or cut open. Lacerations may be deep or shallo!$ long or short$ and !ide or
narro!. Most lacerations are the result of the sin hitting an ob@ect$ or an
ob@ect hitting the sin !ith force.
. >ite - is a !ound received from the teeth of an animal$ including
humans.
G. *unshot /ound (*6/ - (>allistic 8rauma is a form of physical trauma
sustained from the discharge of arms or munitions.

>arotrauma - !oundin@ury caused by a change in atmospheric pressure.

Befense /ound - or self-defense !ound is an in@ury received by the

victim of an attac !hile trying to defend against the assailant. )ften found
on the hands and forearms$ !here the victim has raised them to protect the
head and face or to fend o# an assault$ but may also be present on the feet
and legs !here a victim attempts defense !hile lying do!n and icing
out at the assailant. Abortion - is the termination of pregnancy by the
removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo before viability.