This document summarizes a seminar on post-mortem changes given by Dr. Nikhil Bansal. It discusses the definition of death and the different types of death, including somatic and cellular/molecular death. It outlines the signs of death that present immediately or at the molecular level. It provides a table describing the relationship between time since death and the condition of the body. It also summarizes the early signs of death, including rigor mortis and cadaveric spasm. Finally, it outlines the late signs of putrefaction, adipocere formation, and mummification.

1. POST-MORTEM CHANGES
SEMINAR, 25TH AUG 2008
DR Nikhil Bansal
J.N.M.C.,Wardha

2. Overview
 Death
 Definition and Type
 Classification
 Time Since Death
 Different Changes After Death

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.

5. Signs of Somatic Death
(Immediate)

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.

7. Signs of Molecular 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

10. Changes After Death (Early
Signs)

11. Rigor Mortis:-

12. Cadaveric Spasm:-

13. Changes After Death (Late
Signs)

14. Putrefaction:-

15. Adipocere Formation:-

16. Mummification:-

17. 17 Thanks!
Seminar on Post-mortem Changes by Dr Nikhil
Bansal