The Forensic Autopsy

What is an Autopsy?

See for yourself

A post mortem examination preformed to determine the cause of death.

Why is a Forensic Autopsy preformed?

Cause of death deemed suspicious, or involves criminal action.

Classification
In a forensic autopsy, a medical examiner or coroner declares the death to be: Natural Accident Homicide Suicide or Unknown

Natural Death

Caused by a known disease: cancer, heart disease, stroke, genetic disorders, etc. Often just simply old age

Accidental Death

Caused by mistake or freak occurrence. Death not planned, but can be explained by circumstances.

Homicidal Death

Killing another person. Close to you? Infanticide, Fratricide, Sororicide, Parricide, Patricide, Matricide, Mariticide, Uxoricide Lots of people Genocide Killing a national, ethnic, racial or religious group

Homicide is the most investigated death, therefore the most autopsied.

Suicidal Death

Killing of self. Often the easiest to identify wrt cause. Can be elaborated further in the report

Toxic, firearm, blunt force trauma, asphyxiation, etc.

Unknown Death

Deaths in absentia

At sea Badly decayed bodies

Experts Who Perform Forensic Autopsies

Forensic Pathologist, aka a Medical Examiner

4 years Undergrad 4 years Medical School 4 years Pathology Residency

Protocol for Performing A Forensic Autopsy?

Corpse brought to M.E. In a new body bag/clean sheets

Avoids cross-transfer of evidence

Placed on dissection table

Physical Examination

2 Parts:

External

Physical outer layer for injuries / cause of death

Internal

Internal organs & tissue - evidence of disease, trauma, toxic substances, organ failure

External Examination
Steps: 1. Photographed 2. Samples taken: hair, nails 3. Undressed, examined for wounds
-- Lacerations, abrasions, bruises
4.

Measured, weighed, cleaned

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 (contd)

2.

Cuts
Chest cavity cut open w/shears or saw.

3.

Removal
1. 2.

Letulles En Masse method All organs at once Ghons En Bloc method Organs removed in sections

4.

Organs weighed, examined

Internal Examination (contd)

5.

Brain examination
1. 2.

3.

4.

Incision: from a point behind one 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 sawcreates a bowl Brain cut from spinal cord, lifted out of the skull for further examination.

Internal Examination (contd)

In additionMajor Systems looked at

Cardio-Vascular (Heart & Lungs) Central Nervous System (CNS)

Vitreous Humor

Not much?
= Dead longer

More Potassium?
= Dead longer

Broken blood vessels? = likely strangulation

http://forensics.rice.edu/ go to TOX LAB

Livor Mortis

MeaningColor 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 hasnt 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 cant 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.

Shows up 2 hours after death Peaks 12 hours after death. Takes 12-24 hours for entire rigor mortis effect to take place. At approximately 0 hours after death, the body is at its stiffest. The eyelids are affected first, the the jaw, face, trunk, arms, legs. Ends after 24-36 hours.

Pallor Mortis

Defined as Paleness of Death.

Tone of the body.

Happens 15-20 minutes after death. Happens due to lack of capillary circulation in the body. Can not be used to determine time of death except if body is found still with color.