3. Death
o Total irreversible cessation of cerebral
function, spontaneous function of respiratory
system and circulatory system.
o The medico legal study of death falls with in
the unit of forensic science.
4. Types of Death – Somatic
Death
The term death as commonly employed
means somatic death
It is due to complete and irreversible cessation
of vital function of brain followed by cessation
of function of heart & lungs.
6. Cellular/Molecular Death
After somatic death tissue & cells survive for a
varying period depending on the O2
requirement.
When these individual tissues & cell die, it is
termed as cellular molecular death.
It is generally complete in 3-4 hours of somatic
death.
8. Time Since Death & Body
Condition
Time Since Death Body Condition
Less than 1 hr Body warm
3 hrs Patchy post-mortem lividity
6-8 hrs Lividity fully developed & fix
12 hrs • Rigor present all over
• Green patches over Caecum
24-36 hrs • Body cold and rigor recceds
• Ova of flies seen
• Green discolouration – adbo, chest
• Abdo distend with gas
48 hrs • Trunk bloated
• Face decolouration
• Swollen blister present
• Moving maggots seen
9. Time Since Death & Body
Condition
Time Since Death Body Condition
72 hrs • Whole body discoloured
• Hair and nail loss
• Tissue soft and discolourised
1 week Soft viscera putrefied
2 weeks Only the more resistant viscera
distinguishable
1-3 months Body is skeletonized
