POST MORTEM CHANGES WITH TIME INTERVAL

EYE:

Tach Norie Scleroteques (one of the ocular signs of death in which a reddish-brown discoloration is transversely arranged across the sclera) seen

Normal IOT = 25mmHg,

IOT after 30 minutes of death = 03mmHg,

IOT after 02 hours of death = 00 mmHg

ALGOR MORTIS:

Rate of fall of body Temperature:

                Summer = 0.5 C / Hour

                Winters = 0.7 C / Hour

Time since Death = Normal Body Temperature – Rectal Temperature / Rate of Fall in Body Temperature

Post Mortem Caloricity:Increase in body temperature after death up to 02 hours

                e.g. = sunstroke, sepsis, infectious diseases, strychnine poisoning, tetanus etc

Liver Mortis (Post mortem staining):

Visible =               3 – 4 hours

Maximum =        6 – 12 hours

Fixed =                 7 – 8 hours

Persists =             till decomposition

Does not develop in drowning cases

Carbon Mono-Oxide Poisoning = Pink                    Cyanide & Flouroacetate = Cherry Red

Refrigeration & Hypothermia = Pink                        Sodium Chlorate = Brown

Hydrogen Sulfide = Green                                           Aniline = Deep Blue                        Carbon Dioxide = Blue

Primary Relaxationafter death: lasts for 01 – 02 hours

Rigor Mortis:

Starts after 02 – 04 Hours

Develops after 10 – 12 hours

Remains for = 12 hours

Takes about 12 hours to pass out

Greenish discoloration of body

Summer 12-24 hours

Winters = 36 – 48 hours

Marbling = 36 hours

Maggots = 48 hours

Whole body becomes green= 03 – 04 days

Post mortem Purge = 03 – 04 days

Colliquative Putrefaction= 05 – 10 days    (wall of the abdomen softens and bursts open with protrusion of stomach and intestines)

Adipocere formation= 03 days to 03 weeks, No adipocere formation seen if fetus is less than 07 weeks old

Autopsy Findings in Strangulation, Hanging & Drowning

 Autopsy Findings in Strangulation, Hanging & Drowning

Autopsy Findings

Strangulation:

v  CCP (Congestion, Cyanosis, Petechial Hemorrhages)

v  Protrusion of tongue

v  Thyroid cartilage / Hyoid bone fracture is more common

v  Ligature mark is horizontal, continuous, usually below or at the level of thyroid cartilage

v  No dribbling from mouth

v  Bleeding from nose, mouth, ear is common

v  Injury to neck muscles common

Manual Strangulation

v  Hyoid Bone Fracture (50-60% cases): Adduction Fracture/ inward compression fracture

v  Neck Abrasions: Semi-lunar (due to Nails) and coin shaped (due to finger tips)

Hanging:

v  CCP (Congestion, Cyanosis, Petechial Hemorrhages)

v  Ligature mark is mostly above or at the level of thyroid cartilage

v  Blood colored froth from nostrils

v  Dribbling from mouth with stains of saliva over chin or chest

v  Le facie sympathique ( the ligature knot presses on cervical sympathetic ganglia, eye on same side remains open and its pupil dilated, it indicates antemortem hanging.)

v  Glove & stock pattern of post mortem lividity if body remains suspended for extended time period with cyanosis, voiding of urine / stool / seminal fluid.

v  Carotid arteries may be injured

v  Hyoid bone may be fractured: involves greater horn of hyoid bone, antero-posterior compression fracture or abduction fracture

Drowning:

v  Fine copious persistent white  froth from mouth nostrils and air passages that will increase on chest pressure

v  Weed, grass, mud in tight hands

v  Water in stomach, intestine and middle ear

v  Washer woman hands

v  Diatoms in brain and bone marrow (Most important finding in ante-mortem drowning)