CHANGES IN THE

BLOOD
A. CHANGE OF COLOR

• After Death, the heart stops beating followed

by stoppage of circulation.
POST MORTEM LIVIDITY OR LIVOR MORTIS

• A discoloration of the body after death when blood

tends to pool in the blood vessels of the most
dependent portions of the body which appears 20-30
minutes after death and complete in 12 hours.
• The usual color is dull red or reddish purple with
some bluish black peterbiae due to rupture of small
engorged capillaries.
IMPORTANCE OF LIVOR MORTIS

• 1. One of the signs of Death

• 2. Determines the protein maintains by the body
after death
PUTREFACTION

• It is the process of dissolution of tissues by the

digestive action of its enzymes and bacteria that
results to softening and liquefaction of tissues are
usually accompanied by the liberation of foul
smelling gases and change of color of the tissues.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS IN PUTREFACTION OF
DEAD BODY IN TROPICAL COUNTRY
• After 1-2 days (24-48 hours) – Rigor Mortis absent, putrefaction changes, muscle
soft and flaccid. Greenish discoloration over the abdomen,
• 3rd day (72 hours) –Abdomen distended with gases, trunk bloated, hair and nails
loosened from its attachment. Blisters formation and blebs.
• 1 week (7 days)- Further bloating of the body and discoloration of the skin.
Bursting of blisters and denudation of the skin.
• 2 Weeks (14 days)- Detachment of the hairs and nails from its attachment.
Bursting of the thorax and abdomen.
• 1 month- The speed in which process of destruction occurs depends on whether
the body is decaying in air, water or under the earth.
3 SPECIAL FORMS OF PUTREFACTION
A. Mummification- a condition where is removal of the body fluid before
decomposition sets in that resulted to sinking and preservation of the
body.
• Natural Mummification – The dead only is buried or exposed to a
dry, hot sandy soil with considerable air movement.
B. Saponification or Adipocere Formation- it is a formation of a soft,
friable and brownish white greasy substance.
C. Maceration- it is a condition of the dead body usually the fetus
characterized by softening and discoloration of tissues as well as
formation of blisters in the skin due to action of autolytic and
proteolytic enzymes in the absence of putrefactive bacteria.
BASIS IN ESTIMATING THE TIME OF DEATH
1.General Physical Changes- a warm supple of body with
moist, transparent cornea and moist lips as well as the
absence of mortem lividity is a condition of recent death.
2.Post Mortem Lividity or Livor Mortis- the onset is 20- 30
minutes and complete in about 12 hours.
3.Post Mortem Rigidity or Rigor Mortis- Onset is 3-4 hours
after death completed in about 12 hours. May lasts 24-
36 hours in tropical countries.
4. Onset and Stage of Decomposition- in tropical
countries , the onset of decomposition is 1-2 days after
death and skeletonized in a month’s time.
5. Life Cycle of Flies- the egg or ova laid down on dead
bodies will hatch to form maggots within 24 hours. The
maggots will feed vigorously on the damaged dead bodies,
then transform into pupal stage and finally into adult flies
within a few days.
6.Change in the body Temperature- Upon death, body temperature decreases
gradually until it reaches the temperature of the environment. The rate of fall of
the temperature is from 15 degrees Fahrenheit to 20 is considered as a sign of
death.
7. Changes in the blood- the blood remains fluid in the body after death for 6-9
hours.
8. Changes in the stomach- It is usually takes to 3-4 hours for the stomach to
empty its contents after meals.
9. Changes in the hair-The rate of growth of hair loss has been estimated from
0.4 mm—0.5 mm/day
7. Changes in the Urinary Bladder- The amount of urine in the bladder may
indicate the time of death when taken into consideration the time when a
person urinates or evacuates his urinary bladder.
8. States of Clothing- If the dead person is well dressed, it is more likely that
death occurs at day time, but if wearing pajamas or nightgowns, it is possible
that death occurs at night and probably at home.
9. Presence or Absence of Fleas in the Clothing of dead Person in Water- If fleas
in the clothing of a drowned person are still alive, then the person has in
water less than 24 hours. Survival of the fleas is not possible if they are still in
the water for more than 24 hours.
PRESUMPTION OF DEATH
Disputable Presumption- Rules of Court Sec. 96 Rule
123, that a person not heard, seen, or absent for seven years is
dead.
A person on board a vessel who was lost during a sea voyage or an
airplane which is missing who had not been heard for 4 years.
A person in the military or armed forces who has taken part in war
and has been missing for 4 years.
A person who has been in danger of death under other
circumstances and his existence has not been known for 4 years.
PRESUMPTION OF SURVIVORSHIP
• The presumption of a persons as to who died first can be interred from the
strength, age, sex of the person concerned.
• If both were under the age of 15 years, the elder is presumed to have
survived.
• If both were above the age of 60, the younger is presume to have survived.
• If one is under 15 and the other above 60 years old, the former is
presumed to have survived
• If both be over 15 and under 16 years old and the sex is different, the male
is presumed to have survived, if the sexes be the same, then the older is
presumed to have survived.
• If one be under 15 or over 60 years old, and the other between those ages,
the latter is presumed to have survived.
END
KEEP SAFE!!!
 ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
KEY POINTS
CHANGES IN BLOOD –

• Coagulation of Blood (clotting); 2. Post-

Mortem Lividity/Cadaveric Lividity, Post-
Mortem Suggillation/Post-Mortem
Hypostasis/Livor Mortis
LIVOR MORTIS –

• A.k.a. post-mortem lividity; post-mortem discoloration, cadaveric

lividity/discoloration, post-mortem sugillation, cadaveric suggillation,
hypostatic lividity, hypostasis; 2. Observable: superficial layer of skin; 3. Usual
color: PURPLISH RED; 4. Special Situations: (a) body is exposed to extreme
heat or cold: BRIGHT RED/REDDISH; (b) carbon monoxide poisoning –
PINKISH LIVIDITY; NOTE: hemoglobin + CO = carboxyhemoglobin (PINK)
•  
LIVOR MORTIS: IMPORTANCE –

• – 1. Sign of death; 2. Whether body position has been changed or moved

after its appearance; 3. Color indicates cause of death; 4. How long a person
has been dead; and 5. Time of death
PUTREFACTION

process of dissolution of tissues by the digestive

• It is the

action of its enzymes and bacteria that results to

softening and liquefaction of tissues are usually
accompanied by the liberation of foul smelling gases and
change of color of the tissues.