This document discusses several postmortem changes that occur after death including lividity, rigor mortis, cadaveric spasm, algor mortis, decomposition, adipocere formation, skeletonization, and mummification. It provides details on the timing and appearance of lividity and rigor mortis and how the distribution is affected by body position. The molecular mechanisms of rigor mortis contraction and postmortem caloricity are also summarized.

1. Postmortem changes
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2. Forensic Taphonomy
(“taphos”=grave ;
“nomos”=law)
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3. Signs of death
 INSENSIBILITY & LOSS OF VOLUNTARY P
 CESSATION OF RESPIRATION
 CESSATION OF CIRCULATION
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4. 4

5. 5

6. Postmortem lividity (/staining/hypostasis)
(LIVOR MORTIS/SUGGILATION/VIBICES)
(D)
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7. 7

8. TIME OF APPEARANCE:
DISTRIBUTION:
OCCURENCE TIME
APPEARANCE in small
patches(1-2 cm in diameter )
 1-2 hrs in plethorics .
 1-4 hrs in anemics .
WELL-MARKED 4-6 hrs
FIXATION 6-8 hrs
POSTURE SITES
SUPINE NECK ENTIRE BACK FLANKS & SIDES OF NECK .
PRONE  LOOSE CONNECTIVE TISSUE IN FRONT(COLOR IS
INTENSE) & TARDIEU SPOTS ARE COMMON .
 CONGESTION NASAL BLEEDING
LYING ON ONE SIDE BLOOD WILL SETTLE ON THAT SIDE .
INVERTED(DRUNKEN)  HEAD & NECK .
 CONJUNCTIVAL HEMORRHAGE .
UPRIGHT(HANGING) LEGS,EXTERNAL GENITALIA , LOWER PART OF
FOREARM , HAND.
DROWNING FACE , UPPER CHEST , HANDS , LOWER ARMS , FEET &
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9. 9

10. Cadaveric spasm
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11. Rigor mortis
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12. 12

13. 13

14. MOLECULAR MECHANISM OF CONTRACTION
IN RIGOR MORTIS CONDITION
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15. ALGOR MORTIS(COOLING OF BODY)
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16. POST MORTEM CALORICITY
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17. 17

18. DECOMPOSITION
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19. STAGES OF PUTREFACTION
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20. Adipocere formation
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21. SKELETONISATION
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22. Mummification
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23. BIBLIOGRAPHY
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