1. Post Mortem Changes Jaroslava Dušková Inst. Pathol.,1st Med. Faculty, Charles Univ., Prague http://www1.lf1.cuni.cz/~jdusk/ General Pathology – Seminary 1a

2. irreversible arrest of integrated organism functions Death

3. Post Mortem Changes physical : algor, pallor (paleness), hypostasis, diffusion of fluids & gases chemical (enzymatic): rigor, blood coagulation, autolysis biological: putrefaction

4. Post Mortem Changes – physical -1 algor – the body temperature levelled out with the surroundings

5. Post Mortem Changes – physical -2 pallor (paleness) circulation stop, contraction of the vessels, esp. arteries

6. Post Mortem Changes – physical -3 hypostasis – gravitation effect – cadaverous spots

7. Post Mortem Changes – physical -4 diffusion of fluids & gases – maceration pseudomelanosis (Hb+ Hydrogen sulfid) - verdohaemoglobin

8. Post Mortem Changes - chemical (enzymatic) -1 rigor (stiffness, cadaverous rigidity) consumption of macroergic compounds (ATP)

9. Post Mortem Changes - chemical (enzymatic) -2 blood coagulation – tissue trombokinases, endothelium autolysis

10. Post Mortem Changes - chemical (enzymatic) -3 Autolysis – disruption of membranes, lost compartmentalization Cell changes in autolysis: loss of cytoplasm basophilia cytoplasm swelling, vacuolisation loss of nuclear stainability (pyknosis, karyorrhexis, karyolysis)

11. Putrefaction & further cadaverous decompositions putrefactive bacteria putrefactive bacteria insects insects worms etc. worms etc.

12. Post Mortem Changes - Meaning & Consequences physical – important in medicojudical practice eg. algor time of death physical – important in medicojudical practice eg. algor time of death chemical – interfering & limiting all special methods chemical – interfering & limiting all special methods biological – limiting even the macroscopy examination biological – limiting even the macroscopy examination