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Difference between revisions of "Forensic pathology"
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*If he was a lone and depressed... he might have been trying to kill himself, ergo ''suicide''. | *If he was a lone and depressed... he might have been trying to kill himself, ergo ''suicide''. | ||
==Death== | ==Death-related changes== | ||
===Rigor mortis=== | ===Rigor mortis=== | ||
Def'n: muscle rigidity following death (caused by depletion of ATP). | Def'n: muscle rigidity following death (caused by depletion of ATP). | ||
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*Liver mortis becomes fixed some time after death. | *Liver mortis becomes fixed some time after death. | ||
**Liver mortis does NOT tell one the position the decedent was in at the time of death-- only the position the decedent was at the time liver mortis became fixed. '''If''' the decedent wasn't moved liver mortis can help determine the position the person was in when they died. | **Liver mortis does NOT tell one the position the decedent was in at the time of death-- only the position the decedent was at the time liver mortis became fixed. '''If''' the decedent wasn't moved liver mortis can help determine the position the person was in when they died. | ||
===Decomposition=== | |||
According to textbooks one of two things happens post-mortem: | |||
*Mummification, or | |||
*Putrefaction. | |||
Real life: | |||
*A mix of mummification and putrefaction occur, i.e. part of the corpse is mummified... part of it decomposed through putrefaction. | |||
Mummification: | |||
*Predominant in dry environments. | |||
*Body becomes dry and leathery. | |||
Putrefaction: | |||
*Body wet/moist after death -- ideal environment for putrefactive bacteria and organisms. | |||
===Artefacts=== | |||
*Prinsloo and Gordon artefact = artefactual post-morten haemorrhage on the posterior surface of the esophagus.<ref name=pmid16378701/> | |||
==Classification of wounds== | ==Classification of wounds== | ||
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*Absence of soot & stippling does '''not exclude''' near range -- may be assoc. with clothing or intermediate target separated from the victim post-injury. | *Absence of soot & stippling does '''not exclude''' near range -- may be assoc. with clothing or intermediate target separated from the victim post-injury. | ||
== | ===Injury severity due to GSWs=== | ||
The damage of a projectile depends on: | |||
*Where the bullet strike, e.g. ascending aorta vs. brain vs. tibia vs. gluteus maximus. | |||
*Kinetic energy of the bullet. | |||
**Ek=1/2*m*v^2. | |||
***Velocity is more important -- as it is squared (duh). | |||
*Cavitation effect.<ref>NEED GOOD REF.</ref> | |||
==Asphyxia== | |||
*This is a big topic. | |||
===Manual strangulation=== | |||
Features:<ref name=Ref_HoFP>{{Ref HoFP|155}}</ref> | |||
*Petechiac of sclerae (white part of eye) & conjunctivae (cover sclerae); present ~ 90% of the time. | |||
*Hyoid bone fracture. | *Hyoid bone fracture. | ||
*Thyroid cartilage fracture. | *Thyroid cartilage fracture. | ||
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==Sharp force trauma== | ==Sharp force trauma== | ||
*Knife or other sharp object. | *Knife or other sharp object. | ||
==Aortic trauma== | ==Aortic trauma== | ||
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*Study of the bugs that eat corpses. | *Study of the bugs that eat corpses. | ||
*Bugs may hide a wound... it is important to know where they like to be. | *Bugs may hide a wound... it is important to know where they like to be. | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||