Read on Twitter
"Forensic pathology"
Post-mortem (autopsy)
examination of a body after death to assess the cause of death
The most common changes that occur after death:
- Rigor mortis
- Livor mortis
- algor mortis
Post-mortem (autopsy)
examination of a body after death to assess the cause of death
The most common changes that occur after death:
- Rigor mortis
- Livor mortis
- algor mortis
Rigor mortis:
- stiffness of the muscles
- occurs 1 to 2 hours or max. 12 h after death
- starts in small muscles of the face followed by hand, arms
and then legs
and trunk
- disappears from the deceased person after almost 3 to 4 days
- stiffness of the muscles
- occurs 1 to 2 hours or max. 12 h after death
- starts in small muscles of the face followed by hand, arms
and then legs and trunk- disappears from the deceased person after almost 3 to 4 days
Livor mortis: 
- the pooling of the blood in the body due to gravity and the lack of blood circulation as a result of decreased cardiac activity
- absent in compressed vessels
- starts 1/2 min to 2 h and max. 12 h after death
(1/3)
- the pooling of the blood in the body due to gravity and the lack of blood circulation as a result of decreased cardiac activity
- absent in compressed vessels
- starts 1/2 min to 2 h and max. 12 h after death
(1/3)
(2/3) Livor mortis:
- normal color is = purple
Livor mortis color can change by poisoning
CO poisoning: cherry red
Cyanide poisoning: pink
Chlorate poisoning: brownish
- normal color is = purple
Livor mortis color can change by poisoning
CO poisoning: cherry red
Cyanide poisoning: pink
Chlorate poisoning: brownish
(3/3)
Points of pressure "compressed vessels" = no livor mortis
Points of pressure "compressed vessels" = no livor mortis
Algor mortis: 
- is the name used to describe the decrease of the body temperature after death.
- it rises firstly then it falls 1 to 2 C per/h
- can be affected by:
• fever
• environment temp.
• clothing
• room ventilation
- is the name used to describe the decrease of the body temperature after death.
- it rises firstly then it falls 1 to 2 C per/h
- can be affected by:
• fever
• environment temp.
• clothing
• room ventilation
Post-mortem changes can be classified into three categories:
- immediate
- early
- late
- immediate
- early
- late
