2. FORENSIC TAPHONOMY
▸ It is the interdisciplinary study and interpretation of
postmortem processes of human remains.
1. Insensibility and loss of voluntary power
2. Cessation of Respiration
3. Cessation of circulation
3. IMMEDIATE CHANGES
▸ This is the earliest sign
of death
▸ They are found in cases
of prolonged fainting
attack, vagal inhibitory
phenomenon, epilepsy,
trance.
▸ Complete stoppage of
respiration for more than
5 mins, causing death
▸ It may occur as a purely
volubtary act, cheyne-
strokes breathing.
▸ Stoppage of heart for
more 5 Mins is
irrecoverable and is
accepted as evidence of
death
4. EARLY (CELLULAR DEATH)
1. Pallor and loss of elasticity of skin
2. Changes in the eye.
3. Primary flaccidity of muscles.
4. Cooling of the body.
5. Postmortem lividity.
6. Rigor mortis
5. CHANGES IN THE SKIN
▸ Skin becomes pale and ashy white and loses
elasticity within a few minutes of death
▸ (segmentation
of retinal vessel)- within few mins - 1 Hour
▸
▸ values occur in vitreous humor after
death upto 100 hours
CHANGES IN THE EYE
6. LOSS OF BODY HEAT (ALGOR MORTIS)
▸ Ideal site to record temperature -
▸ Rate of fall in Temperature - 1.Summer - 0.4 - 0.6 degree
Celcius/Hr.
2.Winter - 1 degree
Celcius/Hr.
Temperature increases after
death.
1. Septicemia
2. Sunstroke
3. Strychnine poisoning
7. POSTMORTEM LIVIDITY( LIVOR MORTIS)
▸ Bluish purple or purplish red discolouration, which
appears under the skin in the most superficial layers
of the dermis of the dependent parts of body after
death due to capillo-venous distention.
▸ It is usually developed within 4 Hours & Maximum at
6 - 12 Hrs
▸ - Occipital scalp, shoulder blade,
buttocks, thigh, calves, heels.
8. POSTMORTEM LIVIDITY( LIVOR MORTIS)
▸ Hanging - - in distal parts of
hands & legs.
▸ - Bluish discolouration
▸ poisoning - Cherry red
▸ - Bright red
▸ - Black
▸ - chocolate brown colour
9. MUSCLE STIFFENING
▸ If the body is subjected to %>65 degree C. ————> coagulation of protein—
——-> muscles contraction (flexor affected more) ——- pugilistic attitude.
▸ When exposed to <5 degree Celsius for reasonable period due to freezing of
body fluids.
▸ Due to putrefaction, due to accumulation of gases in the tissues which causes
false rigidity.
10. RIGOR MORTIS (DEATH STIFFENING - CADAVERIC
RIGIDITY)
▸ It is a state of stiffening of the muscles - Due to ATP
depletion
▸ Primary relaxation
▸ Involuntary( ) ———> Voluntary
(
▸ Follows
▸ Duration - It occurs within 1 to 2 Hour, lasts for
Hrs in winter, Hours in Summer. Disappear in
about .
11. RIGOR MORTIS (DEATH STIFFENING) AKA
CADAVERIC RIGIDITY)
▸ Fetus ( < 7 Month) - Absent Rigor Mortis
▸ Violent threat, TB, Typhoid, Cholera - Early and short
▸ Strychnine death - Early and Long
▸ Arsenic death - Late and long
▸ Rigor mortis frequently absent in person dying from
septicaemia.
12. CADAVERIC SPASM OR INSTANTANEOUS RIGOR
▸ Neurogenic
▸ The persistence of contraction after death may be due to
the failure of the chemical processes required for active
muscular relaxation to occur during molecular death.
▸ No primary relaxation
▸ This is usually limited to a single group of voluntary
muscles and frequently involves the hands
▸ Drowning, fear, firearm, convulsant poison like strychnine
15. DECOMPOSITION
▸ Autolysis is self-digestion of tissues. Soon after death.
▸ Cell-membrane - enzyme release
▸ The earliest autolytic changes occur in
▸ The lining of intestines, adrenal medulla and pancreas
autolyse within hours of death.
16. PUTREFACTION
▸ It means internal decomposition
▸ Surest sign of death
▸ Bacterial enzymes - derived from
intestine.
▸ Chief destructive bacterial agent -
(lecithinase)
▸ First external sign -
▸
17. PUTREFACTION
▸ MARBELLING
▸ It is due to hemolysis of the red cells
which stains the wall of the vessel of
superficial veins.
▸ Chest, thigh, shoulder.
▸ Starts in 24 Hr, prominent in 36 to 48
hrs.
▸ MAGGOTS
▸ Are produced by in 1 to 2 days
▸ Proteolytic enzyme
▸ Previous antemortem wound
18. ADIPOCERE(SAPONIFICATION)
▸ The change is due to the gradual hydrolysis and
hydrogenation of pre-existing fats. ———> calcium and
ammonium ions
▸ Factors - Warm humid, water, clostrium welchi,lipase
▸ - ammonical smell
▸ - sweet smell, hard and brittle
▸ In India -
▸ Identification, injuries, time of death
19. MUMMIFICATION
▸ It is a modification of putrefaction. Dehydration or
drying and shrivelling of the cadaver.
▸ - (1) The absence of moisture in the air, and (2)
the continuous action of dry or warmed air.
▸ Odourless
▸ Complete mummification - 3 months - years
▸ Identification, injuries, time of death can be identified.
