Performing an Autopsy bsapp.com
What Warrants an Autopsy Questionable Death-as determined by the coroner Homicide Drowning Auto Accidents Death of a child bsapp.com
Benefits of Autopsy Discover cause of death for: Criminal cases Family peace of mind Genetic disease or deformity Insurance claims Medical advancement bsapp.com
Autopsy Work from the outside in Pathologist dictates findings (verbally recorded/written) sketches/photographs injuries Collects physical evidence Standard incisions made in torso Body fluid samples retrieved (blood, urine) Major organs removed and weighed Wounds traced inside
Autopsy Room bsapp.com
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External Examination Trace Evidence Sign of injury or mistreatment Sign of illness, disease, or abnormalities bsapp.com
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Patterns of Injury Mechanical (gunshot or stabbing) Sharp force injuries (knives) produce incised wound with sharp edges Blunt force injury causes lacerations with rough edges or perforating wounds (gunshots) Contact shot- gun pressed against body Close range- particles of unburned and partially burned propellant lodge in skin causing stippling (ring around wound proportional to distance fired) Distance shots- no stippling present
Chemical Electrical Thermal Drugs Alcohol Carbon monoxide (CO) Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) Electrical Electrical current passes through body Causes ventricular fibrillation or the heart to stop beating Thermal Hyperthermia- extreme heat/burns Hypothermia- extreme cold
External Injuries and when they could have occurred Antemortem: Before death bruises cannot occur after heart stops Healing of injuries cannot occur after victim is deceased Perimortem: Occurred at time of death Multiple gun shot wounds and bleeding Postmortem: Occurred after death Drag marks on body that was moved after death
X-Ray bsapp.com
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Body Block bsapp.com
Trunk Dissection Y-shaped incision From the shoulders to the pelvic bone This incision is deep bsapp.com
Opening the Chest Skin & muscle, are pulled from the chest wall Chest Plate is extracted Heart is extracted bsapp.com
Removal and Dissection of the Organs One organ at a time OR All body organs at once - ”Rokitansky Method” Upon removal each organ is: Weighed & measured Examined Sliced in cross sections Sampled for microscopic & chemical analysis bsapp.com
Used to Collect Vitreous bsapp.com
Tags & Heart Needle bsapp.com
Samples bsapp.com
Organ Containers bsapp.com
“Running the Gut” The contents of the stomach, intestines, and bowels must be inspected as well bsapp.com
The Scalp is cut ear to ear across the crown of the head Removing the Brain The Scalp is cut ear to ear across the crown of the head bsapp.com
Exposing the Skull Next the scalp is pulled forward and back to expose the skull bsapp.com
Two methods of cutting the skull cap Exposing the Brain Two methods of cutting the skull cap bsapp.com
Removal of the Brain Spinal Cord is cut The soft brain is removed Brain is so soft it must be placed in formaldehyde for about a week before an in depth examination bsapp.com
Close Up Skull cap is replaced Skin pulled back in place Body Organs may or may not be replaced Incisions are sown up with the use of a baseball stitch bsapp.com
Baseball Stitch