Forensic Medicine > Postmortem Changes > Flashcards

Postmortem Changes Flashcards

(43 cards)

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1
Q

How to confirm cessation of Respiration?

A
  1. Mirror test
  2. Feather test
  3. Winslow test
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2
Q

How to confirm cessation of cardiac function?

A
  1. Magnus/Ligature test
  2. Diaphanus/Transillumination test
  3. Icard’s test
  4. Finger nail test
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3
Q

What are the post mortem changes seen in eyes?

A
  1. Vitreous changes
    - Potassium - Best; increases by 0.17/hour upto 4 days since death
    - Lactic acid
    - Vitamin C
  2. Retinal changes
    - Kevorkian/ Cattle trucking/ Railway trucking sign
  3. Scleral & Conjunctival changes
    - Tache Noire Sclerotica *IBQ - VVVV IMP
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4
Q

Which is the earliest sign of death?

A

Loss of voluntary movement

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5
Q

Which is the earliest eye sign after death

A

Kevorkian sign - appears within seconds-minutes, lasts upto an hour

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6
Q

What is the rate of fall of temperature, post mortem?

A

0.5 °C/hour
*PYQ - Calculate TSD

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7
Q

Which is the most common site used to measure body temperature?

A

Rectum (except sodomy cases)

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8
Q

What is the most ideal site to measure body temperature?

A

Subhepatic

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9
Q

How to calculate TSD

A

TSD = Normal temp - Rectal temp/ rate of fall of temp

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10
Q

Fastest loss of temperature is seen in which medium?

A

W:A:S = 4:2:1

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11
Q

Causes of postmortem caloricity

A
  1. Disturbed heat regulation - Sunstroke, pontine hemorrhage
  2. Heat prod d/t muscle convulsion - Tetanus, Strychnine poisoning
  3. Heat prod d/t excess bacterial activity - Septicemia, pneumonia, cholera, typhoid, meningitis
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12
Q

What causes rigor mortis?

A

Depletion of ATP; 15-30%

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13
Q

First organ to become rigid?

A

Heart>eye muscle

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14
Q

What pattern of livor mortis is seen in hanging?

A

Glove and stocking

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15
Q

No lividity is seen in which case?

A

Drowning in running water (body is constantly moving)

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16
Q

Time taken for fixation of livor mortis?

A

6-12 hours

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17
Q

Colour of lividity in burns

A

Cherry red

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18
Q

Colour of lividity associated with Nitrites, Nacl, Nitrates, aniline and PAN

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A

Chocolate brown *

19
Q

Colour of lividity of septic abortion

20
Q

Colour of lividity in hypothermia/refrigeration

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A

Bright pink *

21
Q

Colour of lividity associated with opium

22
Q

Colour of lividity associated with aniline

23
Q

Colour of lividity associated with hydrogen sulphide

24
Q

Colour of lividity associated with cyanide

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A

Bright/brick red

25
Normal colour of lividity
Blue/purplish
26
Rules of rigor mortis
1. Rule of 12 2. Shapiro's rule 3. Nysten's rule
27
What is Nysten's rule? *PYQ
Sequential development of rigor mortis; **Proximodistal/descending** 1. Eyes 2. Neck 3. Chest 4. Upper limbs 5. Abdomen 6. Legs 7. Fingers and toes
28
1st sign of decomposition
Greenish discolouration over right iliac fossa
29
What is Casper's dictum?
Rate of discolouration in A:W:E = 1:2:8
30
Define marbling
Bluish discolouration around blood vessels
31
First and last organs to undergo decomposition
First - Larynx, trachea Last - Bones
32
Last visceral organ to putrify
M - Prostate F - Uterus
33
Time taken for marbling
36-48 hours
34
Ammonia smell is present in
Adipocere
35
Percentage of weight lose in mummification
70%
36
In what age is adipocere not formed?
<7 months, not enough adipose tissue
37
Other names for adipocere
Saponification Grave wax
38
Gases formed post mortem
- H2S (principal gas) - Ammonia - CO2 - Methane
39
Difference b/w heat stiffening and rigor mortis
Heat stiffening - position maintained upto decomposition Rigor mortis - position maintened for only 12 hours
40
What position/attitue is seen in heat stiffening?
- Defence - Fencing - Pugilistic - Boxers
41
Conditions resulting in heat stiffening
- Burns (>65°C) - High voltage electric shock
42
Difference b/w rigor mortis and cadaveric spasm
- Rigor mortis - PM, primary relaxation present, voluntary and involuntary muscles involved - Cadaveric spask - AM, no primary relaxation, only few voluntary muscles involved
43
Other names for cadaveric spasms
- Instantaneous rigor - Cataleptic rigidity
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