1. AUTOPSY It means to see for oneself. (Auto= Self Opis=View)
-Clinical autopsy.
-Medico-legal autopsy.

2. Medico-legal autopsy or post mortem examination is a special type of scientific examination of dead body carried out under the laws of the state for the protection of its citizens and to assist the identification and prosecution of the guilty.

3. OBJECTS\ AIMS Cause of death. Manner of death. Time since death.
To establish identity,
To retain relevant organs and tissue as evidence.
Infants-Live birth and viability.

4. Rules for Medico-Legal Autopsy
Authorization.
Identification.
Visit of scene of crime.
History of the case.
Verification of the injuries noted by the police.
Examination.
Notes.
Preservation of viscera and other tissue.
List of artifacts.

5. -Time of arrival of body. -Date and place of examination.
Contents of the Autopsy report
The preamble
-Authority.
-Time of arrival of body. -Date and place of examination.
-Name,Age and Sex.
- Body identified by.

6. The body of the report
- External and internal examination.
- Wounds\Injuries- nature,direction,situation and sizes.
- Conclusions.

7. External examination
Condition of the body
Marks of identification.
Eyes.
State of natural orifices,ears,nostrils,mouth,anus,urethra and vagina.
Injuries-nature,position and measurements.
State of limbs.
Genitals and breasts.

8. Walls, ribs and cartilages. Pleura and diaphragm
Thorax
Walls, ribs and cartilages.
Pleura and diaphragm
Larynx,trachea and bronchi.
Lungs with weight.pericardium.
Heart,cavities,valves and coronary vessels.
Large vessels(Aorta)

9. Smell of the body and viscera. Postmortem staining and its colour.
Poisoning cases
Smell of the body and viscera.
Postmortem staining and its colour.
If froth present,its nature.
Colour of sclera, lips and nails.
Mouth and surroundings.
Injuries.
Details of G.I tract examination.
Description of stomach and contents.

10. Upper part of small intestine. - 30cms with contents.
Viscera to be collected for Chemical Examination
Stomach with contents.
Upper part of small intestine.
- 30cms with contents.
500gms of liver and half of each kidney.
5-10ml of blood.30ml of urine.

11. Description of ligature material. Description of the ligatures mark.
Hanging\Ligature strangulation cases
Description of ligature material.
Description of the ligatures mark.
Marks of salivary dribble.
Condition of eyes and pupils.
Colour of lips and nails.position of tongue.
Distribution of postmortem staining.
Presence of injuries on the body.

12. Examination of neck sutures.
Injury to cervical spine and cord.
Examination of internal organs.
Preservation of viscera in cases of suspicion of poisoning.

13. Smell from the body,kerosene other inflammable agents.
Burns cases
Smell from the body,kerosene other inflammable agents.
Nature of burns.
- Antemortem
- Postmortem.
Extent and degree of burns.
Age of burns.
Injuries other than burns.

14. Colour of postmortem staining.
Examination of air passages for the presence of soot particles.
Evidence of
-Poisoning.
- Pregnancy,abortion,sexual assaults.

15. Negative Autopsy
When gross and microscopic examination and other investigations fail to reveal a cause of death,the autopsy is considered to be negative.
- Men.
- Material.
-Method.

16. Inadequate microscopic examination.
Men
Lack of experience.
Lack of training.
Material
Inadequate microscopic examination.
Insufficient laboratory examination.
Lack of toxicological analysis.

17. Lapses in external examination.
Method
Inadequate history.
Lapses in external examination.
Inadequate or improper internal examination.

18. -Death by emotion or work stress.
Obscure Autopsy
Which do not reveal the cause for death in which there are trivial,equivocal or obscure findings or no positive findings.
Causes
Natural diseases.
-Death by emotion or work stress.
-Death due to functional failure epilepsy,paroxysmal fibrillation.

19. Uraemia,diabetes,potassium deficiency. Anoxic anaemia.
Biochemical disturbances
Uraemia,diabetes,potassium deficiency.
Anoxic anaemia.
Endocrine dysfunction
Adrenal insufficiency.
Thyrotoxicosis or Myxoedema.
Concealed trauma
Concussion.
Blunt injury to heart.
Reflex vagal inhibition.

20. Anesthetic over dosage. Neurotoxic or Cytotoxic poisons.
Poisoning
Narcotic poisoning.
Anesthetic over dosage.
Neurotoxic or Cytotoxic poisons.
Plant poisoning.
Miscellaneous
Allergy.
Drug idiosyncrasy.

21. Artifacts
May be defined as a change in the natural state of the body that is likely to be misinterpreted at autopsy.
-Before death.
-At the moment of death.
-After death.
-During autopsy.

22. Therapeutic artifacts. Surgical artifacts.
Before death
Therapeutic artifacts.
Surgical artifacts.
At the moment of death
Agonal artifacts.
Resuscitation artifacts

23. Artifacts due to the handling of the body.
After death
Artifacts due to the handling of the body.
Artifacts related to rigor mortis.
Artifacts related to postmortem lividity.
Artifacts due to animal bite.
Artifacts due to chemicals.
Artifacts due to refrigeration.
Embalming artifacts.

24. Extravasation of blood. Fracture of hyoid bone.
Artifacts during autopsy
Air in blood vessels.
Skull fractures.
Visceral damage.
Extravasation of blood.
Fracture of hyoid bone.