1. Performing an Autopsy
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2. What Warrants an Autopsy
Questionable Death-as determined by the coroner
Homicide
Drowning
Auto Accidents
Death of a child
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3. Benefits of Autopsy Discover cause of death for: Criminal cases
Family peace of mind
Genetic disease or deformity
Insurance claims
Medical advancement
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4. 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

5. Autopsy Room
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7. External Examination Trace Evidence Sign of injury or mistreatment
Sign of illness, disease, or abnormalities
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9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. X-Ray
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15. Body Block
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16. Trunk Dissection Y-shaped incision
From the shoulders to the pelvic bone
This incision is deep
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17. Opening the Chest Skin & muscle, are pulled from the chest wall
Chest Plate is extracted
Heart is extracted
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18. 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
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19. Used to Collect Vitreous
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20. Tags & Heart Needle
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21. Samples
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22. Organ Containers
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23. “Running the Gut”
The contents of the stomach, intestines, and bowels must be inspected as well
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24. 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
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25. Exposing the Skull
Next the scalp is pulled forward and back to expose the skull
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26. Two methods of cutting the skull cap
Exposing the Brain
Two methods of cutting the skull cap
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27. 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
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28. 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
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29. Baseball Stitch