The document discusses various types of asphyxial deaths including hanging, throttling, suffocation, and drowning. It defines asphyxia as a lack of oxygen from mechanical interference with respiration. The signs of asphyxia are described as cyanosis, increased capillary permeability, and petechial hemorrhages. Various violent forms of asphyxia are then discussed in more detail, including the causes, symptoms, findings, and mechanisms of death from hanging, throttling, suffocation, and drowning.

1. DEATHS FROM
ASPHYXIA
Dr. D. B. Sharma
Principal, Professor and HOD
Dept. of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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2. DEFINITION
• The term Asphyxia in Greek means pulse-less-ness.
• It is used to explain those forms of lack of oxygen (Anoxia,
Hypoxia) which result from mechanical interference with the
process of respiration.
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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3. SIGNS OF ASPHYXIA
• The traditionally accepted signs of asphyxia are due to
pathological changes resulting from anoxia.
• The effect of anoxia on tissues is mainly two fold viz, Non-
specific and Specific.
• Non-specific- Body tissue undergo parenchymatous
degeneration.
• Specific-
1. Cyanosis
2. Increased capillary permeability
3. Petechial haemorrhages (Tardieu spots)
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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4. Cyanosis
Due to a diminished oxygen tension in the blood
&
Increase in reduced hemoglobin.
Blood appears purple or dark in colour esp. in the lips, and where
venous and capillary bed is abundant e.g. the lungs, meninges,
liver, spleen and kidneys.
Capillary dilatation and this leads to stasis and pooling of blood.
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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5. VICIOUS CIRCLE IN CYANOSIS
Asphyxia
Capillary
dilatation
Stasis
Reduced
venous
return to
heart
Reduced
pulmonary
blood flow
Deficient
oxygenation
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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6. INCREASED CAPILLARY PERMEABILITY :
 Results from anoxia and stasis.
 This may cause:
Gelatinous moistening of the organs such as the brain and
myocardium
Development of excess fluid in serous sacs, eg, pleura and
pericardium. And
Oedema of some tissues e.g., mediastinal tissues and lungs.
(Pulmonary Oedema)
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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7. PETECHIAL HAEMORRHAGES:
Tardieu spots (after the French Police Surgeon who described them in 1866)
Spots are usually round, dark-red, well-defined and about
the size of a pin-head but may occasionally be larger.
Commonly found in face, conjunctivae, epiglottis, serous
surfaces of heart and lungs, meninges and thymus.
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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8. VIOLENT ASPHYXIAL DEATHS
 Hanging
 Ligature Strangulation.
 Throttling (manual strangulation)
 Suffocation(smothering, choking, traumatic asphyxia)
 Drowning.
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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9. HANGING
• Hanging is defined as a form of violent asphyxia as a result of
suspension of the body by a ligature round the neck, the
constricting force being the weight of the body.
• The ligature constricts the neurovascular bundles in the neck
and/or the upper airways.
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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10. There are two types: 1) Complete Hanging
2) Partial Hanging
1) Complete Hanging: When the feet do not touch the ground
and the weight of the whole body acts as a constricting force
is called complete hanging.
2) Partial Hanging: When the weight of only head, and not the
whole body , acts as a c0onstricting force, it is called partial
hanging, here weight of the head is sufficient to produce a
fatal result.
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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11. SYMPTOMS:
The onset is follow rapidly.
Flashes of light before the eyes
Ringing in ears
Followed by sudden loss of consciousness
Death.
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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12. CAUSE OF DEATH
 Death may occur from :
1. Cerebral ischemia and anoxia from obstruction of arterial blood flow to
the brain by pressure on the carotid arteries.
2. Cerebral congestion due to compression of the jugular veins
3. Blockage of the air passages by direct compression or because the
root of the tongue is pulled upwards by the ligature
4. Vagal inhibition from pressure on vagus nerves or carotid sinus
5. Injury to spinal column or cord(esp. in judicial hanging)
6. A combination of any of the above.
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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13. FATAL PERIOD
• In Judicial Hanging—where hanging is associated with a drop
of many feet, death may be instantaneous from a fracture of
cervical vertebrae and associated injury to the spinal cord
although the heart may continue to beat for 15 to 20 minutes
thereafter.
• If there is no injury to spinal cord and blockage of air passage
is not complete , 5 to 8 minutes is the common fatal period
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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14. POSTMORTEM APPEARANCES
• These vary according to the mode of dying.
• They are discussed under :
1) External appearances
2) Ligature mark
3) Internal appearances
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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15. 1) External Appearances
• Ligature mark.
• Stretched neck due to upward pull.
• Head is always inclined to the side opposite the knot due to
gravitational forces.
• Cyanosed hands and nail beds,
• Eyeballs appear prominent due to congestion,
• The tongue, turgid, may protrude due to pressure by the
ligature at its base and the exposed part may become dark
brown or almost black as a result of drying.
• Petechiae , may be found but only on the skin of arms and
legs due to gravitational forces.
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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16. 2) Ligature mark
• This is a pressure mark on the neck at the site of the ligature.
• It appears as a groove.
• In the early period after death it looks pale.
• Later ,it becomes yellowish brown, dry, hard, and parchment
like.
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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17. • In complete hanging, the ligature mark is situated above the
level of thyroid cartilage between the larynx and chin.
• It is directed obliquely upwards along the line of the mandible
and reaches the mastoid processes behind the ears.
• It is sometimes absent in the back where two limbs of the
noose stretch upwards towards the knot.
• The mark is better seen on the front and sides of the neck than
nape where firm muscular tissue and scalp hair intervene.
• In partial hanging the ligature mark may be situated at a lower
level.
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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18. THROTTLING
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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• Manual strangulation, also known as throttling, is a type of asphyxial death
where the perpetrator uses his hand to encircle and compress the front
and side of the neck.
• It is a common method of homicide, most often encountered when the
physical size and strength of the assailant exceeds that of the victim.

19. SUFFOCATION
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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20. Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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21. Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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22. Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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23. Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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24. DROWNING
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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25. Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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26. EPIDEMIOLOGY OF DROWNING
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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27. TYPES OF DROWNING
• Freshwater drowning
• Seawater drowning
WET DROWNING
• Water enter larynx but not lungs due to
laryngeal spasm
DRY DROWNING
• Death due to sec. effects of drowning-
cerebral anoxia, bronchopneumonia,
etc.
SECONDARY DROWNING
(Post- Immersion
Syndrome)
• Death due to cardiac arrest due to
vagal inhibition because of immersion
in cold water.
HYDROCUTION
(Immersion syndrome)
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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28. CAUSES OF DEATH IN
DROWNING
1. Asphyxia
2. Ventricular fibrillation
3. Myocardial anoxia
4. Laryngeal spasm
5. Vagal inhibition
6. Exhaustion
7. Head injury from striking against objects in the water
body.
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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29. POST MORTEM
FINDINGS
• Post mortem lividity is seen on neck head and front of the
chest- bright pink in colour
• Cutis anserina (goose fleshing): contraction of erector
pilorum muscles.
• Rigor mortis sets in and passes away quickly due to
exhaustion of the muscles.
• Hands affected by cadaveric spasm may grasp seaweed,
sand, straw, etc. while struggling.
• After 48-72 hours, skin of the palms and soles
are bleached, wrinkled and soddened.
This is called washer-woman’s hands and feet.
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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30. THANK
YOU
Dept. of FMT, DYPHMCRC
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