| POSTMORTEM CHANGES |
| |
Livor Mortis
| Evident |
30 min - 2 hrs. |
| Fixed |
8 - 12 hrs. (24 - 36 hrs if cool) |
| Tardieu spots |
18 - 24 hrs.(2 - 4 hrs in hanging limbs) |
|
| |
Rigor Mortis
| Cadaveric spasm |
heavy exercise, convulsions, high body temps |
| Evident |
2 - 4 hrs. (jaw, upper then lower extremities) |
| Maximum |
6 - 12 hrs. |
| Passes |
24 hrs (hot) - 36 hrs - 6 days (cold) |
| Accelerated |
infants, strychnine, convulsions, hyperthermia,
drowning (struggle), |
Cutis anserino - rigor mortis of arrector pili muscles (gooseflesh). |
| |
Temperature
| Time since death = 37C - Rectal temp (C) + 3 |
|
Time since death = (98.6F - Rectal temp (F)) / 1.5
|
Assumption that body temp at death was normal.
Can have postmortem rise in temp due to metabolic activity of body tissues
& bacteria: may take up to 4 hrs to return to normal.
Consider effects of ambient temperature, clothing, body fat. |
| |
Decomposition
| Corneal clouding |
24 hrs. |
| Green belly |
24 - 36 hrs. |
| Marbling |
60 - 72 hrs. |
| Skeletonization |
Exposed remains 9-10 days |
| Mummification |
hot & dry |
| Adipocere |
damp & warm; immersed in water |
| Accelerated |
obesity, heavy clothing, sepsis |
|
| |
Gastric Emptying
| Light meal |
1.5 - 2 hrs. |
| Medium meal |
3 - 4 hrs. |
| Heavy meal |
4 - 6 hrs. |
|
| |
Insect Activity
Blowflies lay eggs immediately after death in daytime.
| Eggs |
1 - 2 days |
| Maggots to pupa |
6 - 10 days |
| Adult flies |
12 - 18 days |
|
| |
| Other Methods: Vitreous Potassium, Flow Cytometry for splenic DNA degradation
(experimental) |
| Most accurate: Scene markers (mail, TV schedule, dress, last seen, receipts) |
| |
| Increase post-mortem: Vitreous K, Serum glucose in asphyxia, right
heart or IVC |
| Decrease post-mortem: Vitreous glucose, Serum Na, Cl, glucose in
left heart and extremities, |
| Stays stable post-mortem: Vitreous Na and Cl, VUN (most stable) |
| |
| Postmortem clot vs. antemortem clot. Postmortem looks like chicken fat
& current jelly. Antemortem granular w/lines of Zahn |
| |
| |