AUTOPSY

WHAT IS AN AUTOPSY?
“See for yourself”

A postmortem examination performed to

determine cause of death.

Forensic Pathologist, aka Medical

Examiner
WHY IS A FORENSIC AUTOPSY PREFORMED?
Cause of death deemed suspicious or involves
criminal action.
Questionable death
Homicide
Drowning
Auto Accidents
Death of a child
MANNER OF DEATH
1. Natura l- heart failure, disease, death during sleep

2. Homicide - killing of a human; murder

3. Suicide - intentionally taking one’s own life

4. Accident - if it can be avoided an investigation will take place

5. Undetermined-unknown (autopsy required)

CAUSE OF DEATH
1. Blunt Force - damage to organs , bleeding (ex. Bat)

2. Stabbing - excessive loss of blood or damage to organs

3. Stroke - blockage in brain

4. Hanging- lack of oxygen

5. Drowning - lack of oxygen; water in lungs and stomach

Which
wound was
caused by:
stabbing,
incision, &
laceration?
TIME OF DEATH
1. Rigor Mortis - muscles stiffening between 24-36 hours

2. Livor Mortis - settling of blood in areas of the body closest to the ground (skin appears dark blue or
purple) Begins and continues for up to 12 hrs after death

3. Algor Mortis - temp of the body cools until it reaches the surrounding temp (Begins 1hr after death & heat
loss is 1-1.5 F per hour)

4. Ocular Fluid/Vitreous Humor- measure the rate of potassium levels present at difference times of death

5. Stomach Contents-amount of food in stomach can help estimate when last meal was eaten (a lot of food-1-
2hrs)
VITREOUS HUMOR
Not much?
= Dead longer…

More Potassium?
= Dead longer…
Broken blood vessels?
= likely strangulation
LIVOR MORTIS
‘Color of Death’.
Coloration of the skin.
 Death = the heart stops = blood stops cycling.
 Red blood cells, plasma gather on the bottom part of the body, closest to
the floor.
 A line forms after 8 hours if the body hasn’t been moved. If moved, a new
line forms.
 The thicker the line, the longer the body held that position.
ALGOR MORTIS
Defined as ‘Coolness of Death’.
Temperature of body.
 In a controlled environment, stating at 98.6 degrees, the body will drop
one degree per hour.
 This happens because at death, the respiratory system stops working, the
body stops functioning, it is no longer moving.
 When taking the temperature of a corpse, you can’t take it in the mouth
because the muscles will be relaxed and the tongue wont stay on top of the
thermometer.
 Thinner people cool faster then fat people.
RIGOR MORTIS
Defined as ‘Stiffness of Death’.
Flexibility of the body.
2 hours after death
Peaks 12 hours after death.
Takes 12-24 hours for entire effect to take place.
0 hours after death, the body is at its stiffest.
The eyelids are affected first
Ends after 24-36 hours.
PALLOR MORTIS

Defined as ‘Paleness of Death’.

Tone of the body.
15-20 minutes after death.
Due to lack of capillary circulation in the body.
BENEFITS OF AUTOPSY
Discover cause of death for:
Criminal cases
Peace of mind for family
Genetic disease or deformity
Insurance claims
Medical advancement
AUTOPSY ROOM
BODY BLOCK
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION
External
 Physical outer layer – for injuries / cause of death

Internal
 Internal organs & tissue - evidence of disease, trauma, toxic substances, organ failure
EXTERNAL EXAMINATION
Sign of injury or mistreatment
Sign of illness, disease, or abnormalities
Photographed
Samples taken
Undressed, examined for wounds
 Lacerations, abrasions, bruises

Measured, weighed, cleaned

Trace Evidence
INTERNAL EXAMINATION
Steps of an internal examination.
1. Incisions
“Y” Behind each ear, down the neck, meet mid-sternum, continue
to the groin.
 For suspected strangulation – 50% no ext. signs
 Show fractured HYOID bone
“T” From each shoulder, meet top of sternum, continue to the groin.
 Better looking finished product
INTERNAL EXAMINATION (CONT’D)
Cuts
Chest cavity cut open w/shears or saw.
Removal
Letulle’s “En Masse” method – All organs at once
Ghon’s “En Bloc” method – Organs removed in sections
Organs weighed, examined
BRAIN EXAMINATION
Incision: from behind ear, over top of head, to point behind the
opposite ear.
Scalp pulled away from the skull, forward and back. Front flap
over the face, rear flap over the neck.
Skull cut with electric saw creating a “bowl”
Brain cut from spinal cord, lifted out of the skull for further
examination.
INTERNAL EXAMINATION (CONT’D)
In addition Major Systems looked at
 Cardio-Vascular (Heart & Lungs)
 Central Nervous System (CNS)
 CLOSE UP
1. Skull cap is replaced
2. Skin pulled back in place
3. Body Organs may or may not be replaced
4. Incisions are sown up with the use of a
baseball stitch
DEATH CERTIFICATE
IMPORTANCE
It is an important legal document which certifies the death of a person.
Explains the cause, manner, mode and time of death.
Required before obtaining permission for cremation or burial from municipal
authorities.
A properly registered certificate is essential for claims of various dues like insurance,
gratuity, provident fund, family pension, and accident benefit claims etc.
For execution of the will of the deceased.
Deletion of the name of the deceased person’s name from ration card, shares,
movable and immovable properties, bank account etc.
US