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Difference between revisions of "Forensic pathology"
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==Death-related changes== | ==Death-related changes== | ||
===Rigor mortis=== | ===Rigor mortis=== | ||
Definition: | |||
*Muscle rigidity following death (caused by depletion of ATP). | |||
Dependent on: | Dependent on: | ||
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*May never develop! | *May never develop! | ||
It is the explanation for post-mortem goose bumps. | |||
====Summary==== | |||
*Its onset & presence is ''highly variable''. | |||
*Forensic pathologists do '''not''' comment on time of death, as the above times are subject to such a large degree of variability, i.e. the estimates are essentially useless. | |||
====Time estimates==== | |||
A crude guess for time of death based on rigor:<ref name=Ref_KFP61>{{Ref KFP|61}}</ref> | A crude guess for time of death based on rigor:<ref name=Ref_KFP61>{{Ref KFP|61}}</ref> | ||
*Warm & flaccid <3 h. | *Warm & flaccid <3 h. | ||
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Notes: | Notes: | ||
*Memory device: '''3s''': cut points are at ''3 hours'', ''1/3 of a day'', ''3/2 of a day.'' | *Memory device: '''3s''': cut points are at ''3 hours'', ''1/3 of a day'', ''3/2 of a day.'' | ||
===Livor mortis=== | ===Livor mortis=== | ||
Definition: pooling of blood in the dependent position, due to blood stasis. | |||
*Onset may preceed death in the context of congestive heart failure. | *Onset may preceed death in the context of congestive heart failure. | ||
*If pressure is applied to a dependent area-- no blood can enter there; thus, a pressure area is blanched (i.e. white). | *If pressure is applied to a dependent area-- no blood can enter there; thus, a pressure area is blanched (i.e. white). | ||