60. Postmortem changes

Question 1

Name 10 PM changes in latin + english

Answer 1

Question 2

What is post mortem ?

Answer 2

Post mortem means “after death” and refers to changes in the body after death.

influenced by endogenous and environmental factors

Question 3

Algor mortis

Answer 3

English: Cooling off

Metabolic processes ends →no heat
production→thermoequalisation

Factors affecting speed of cooling:
- Hair
- subcutaneous fat tissue
- environmental temperature

Question 4

Pallor mortis

Answer 4

English: Pale colour

• Blood settles to lower parts of the body (gravity)
  
  • Skin + mucous membranes = paler
  • Contraction of small blood vessels

Question 5

Why is pallor mortis difficult to observe in animals?

Answer 5

Not as visible, due to hair and pigmentation

Question 6

Exsiccatio postmortalis

Answer 6

English: Desiccation

Drying due to evaporation
drying out, often seen in piglets nose

mummification–> complete dehydration of tissue

Question 7

maceratio postmortalis

Answer 7

English: Soaking

• Skin and organs filled with fluid
  Can occur if:
• Carcass is in water
• Intrauterine death of fetus

Question 8

Rigor mortis

Answer 8

English : stiffness

• Occurs in all 3 muscle types
• starts 2-4 hours
• stops 48-60 hours

Question 9

cruor postmortalis

Answer 9

English: Postmortem clot

• Dark red, smooth, fleshy surface
• Blood clots 15-30 minutes after death
• Not attached to the intima

Question 10

Hypostasis

Answer 10

English: PM Blood sedimentation

• Effect of gravity on the blood fluid
• Occurs within 1h
• Livores mortis - dark purple
  postmortem spots where blood has
  pooled

Question 11

Imbibition

Answer 11

English: Discolouration

Discoloration by absorption of
pigments after death

Blood: hemoglobin, permeates
within 24 hours

Gall bladder: bile pigment
imbibition

Question 12

autolysis

Answer 12

English: Self-softening

• Autolysis by the cells own
  endogenous enzymes
• Autodigestion by digestive juices
• Leads to softening of the tissues

Question 13

putrefaction

Answer 13

English: Postmortem destruction

Decomposition by saprogenic bacteria → gases, liquids, salts

Effects: Gas production → stomach distension, rapid putrefaction (esp. in warm environments, obese animals, hyperemic organs, infections, injuries)

Slower in:Lean, dehydrated animals; stops below 5°C

Consequences:
Emphysema: Gas bubbles in tissues
Tympany:GIT bloat/distension

Discoloration:
Sulph-hemoglobin: Hb + H₂S → Grey-green
Pseudomelanosis: H₂S + Hemosiderin →Black

Question 14

Adipocere

Answer 14

English : Postmortem wax

Conditions:Forms in wet, clayey soil or in moist, low-oxygen environments

when body fat breaks down, fatty acids and soaps (salts of fatty acids) are produced through saponification.