Forensic Pathology
Forensic Pathology
Forensic Pathology
Note: these are only topics that were mentioned as possible exam material. Boxes = highly emphasized material.
Her notes are pretty concise for the other (pretty interesting) stuff
For example, a person might die of sepsis, but the initiating cause could be a stab wound of the chest. Therefore, part 23a would be:
Sepsis (immediate cause of death) and part 23b would be: Stab wound of the chest (proximate cause of death).
Mechanism of Death is the physiologic process that results from the cause of death
i.e. cardiopulmonary arrest, asystole, respiratory arrest, etc.
NEVER PUT A MECHANISM OF DEATH ON A DEATH CERTIFICATE!!
Manner of Death is the circumstance under which the cause of death occurs
i.e. Homicide, Suicide, Accident, Natural, or Undetermined
Only medical examiners can certify non-natural deaths.
Another physician can fill out and sign a death certificate with approval of the medical examiner’s office. A medical examiner will
have to co-sign the death certificate. The funeral home usually brings the death certificate to our office for co-signature.
Remember if there is any type of trauma or injury listed in the Cause of death or Other significant condition sections and a
physician fills in a manner of natural, vital records will reject the death certificate and the case will be investigated by our office,
hopefully before the body is embalmed!!
Pulmonary embolism can be any manner of death (what if you were shot broken leg etc. – homicide!)
Quadriplegia too (if you tried to jump off a bridge, died years later – still suicide!)
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Other types of blunt object injuries
Contusion: bruise which is the leakage of blood from torn vessels
Abrasion: scrape with damage to the surface of the skin and is produced by friction or pressure.
Automobile accidents: Blunt and sharp force injuries are common. Sharp force injuries include dicing and slicing.
DICING INJURIES: small angulated cuts produced by the cube-like fragments of tempered glass
o from the side or rear windows.
Slicing injuries: delicate, thin, long, straight cuts produced by laminated glass
o from the front windshield.
o Laminated glass consists of a layer of plastic between two layers of glass and in an accident it usually comes off in
one large dented and folded piece
Rigor mortis: the postmortem stiffening of the muscles due to lack of ATP regeneration and acidity, which results in
the formation of locking chemical bridges between actin and myosin.
Becomes apparent within 30 minutes to an hour, maximizes at 12 hours, remains for 12 hours, and progressively disappears
within the following 12 hours.
Entrance wound has a circumferential marginal abrasion collar and its edges are unopposable.
Exit wound: laceration or tear in the skin; usually larger than the entrance wound and the edges can be opposed.
Range of fire:
Soot: burnt particles of gunpowder which can be wiped from the skin around an entrance wound.
Gunpowder stippling are punctate abrasions on the skin caused by unburnt particles of gunpowder striking and
scraping the skin around an entrance wound. STIPPLING = CLOSE RANGE (18 inches)
Contact GSW – soot and gunpowder are within the wound track and there could be a muzzle imprint on the skin
surrounding the entrance wound.
If on scalp, the scalp closely overlying the bone has a tendency to tear due to the loss of kinetic energy of the bullet.
o Star shaped tear; entrance beveled inward, exit beveled outward
Near or Loose contact – soot and gunpowder are within and partially around the entrance wound.
Close range – searing of the skin (w/in 2 to 3 in), soot deposition (w/in 6 in), and gunpowder stippling (w/in 18 inches)
Distant – no soot or gunpowder stippling is present on the skin surrounding the entrance wound.
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Definition of decomposition
Decomposition includes:
autolysis, which is the enzymatic digestion of the body
putrefaction, which is the action of bacteria on the body.
After 72 hrs: Vesicle formation with skin slippage and marked bloating of the entire body
If the body decomposes in a dry environment, mummification of the skin can occurs at about 4 days.
Skeletonization is dependent on environmental conditions
in a hot, dry climate if may take 6 to 9 months
hot, humid climate with marked insect activity: a week to ten days.