jimtrue.com : school : CJT2260 : 2003-11-20: Autopsy Evidence
Posted by Jim True on November 20, 2003 7:19 AM. Last Updated October 22, 2006 9:23 PM
Disclaimer for all material noted here is at the bottom of this web page.
Library Assignment: You can pick the handout up anytime that week (see me or Jalicka) or e-mail me; will send assignment as attachment.
Take notes on things looked for at an autopsy:
The Autopsy: Chapter One: Unraveling Life's Mysteries
Autopsy is the ultimate physical examination; all about working backwards from death to life. Autopsies are performed on case of homicides, suicides and questionable death.
Forensic Pathologist: You collect as much as you can without ending up with the kitchen sink in your backpocket.
EMT or Crime Scene technicians can benefit or jeopardize the evidence that could be available as evidentiary value for the Forensic Pathologist.
Dr. Scott Wagner, Forensic Pathologist (Developed Video Series)
Medical records are very helpful in pathological examination; provides prior x-rays, medications lists, surgeries, etc.
In homicide cases, body should be wrapped in clean sheet, hands bagged and bodies placed face up on examination table.
First examination is as thorough as an annual physical; all systems are examined.
Neck for contusions, ligature marks
Chest - rib fractures, tumors,
Arms, legs and fingers for Rigor Mortis: Minimal 1st 1.5 to 2, peaks around 8 and dissipates 24-48 hours.
Ecchymoses (bleeding under the skin); occur in the elderly with very little trauma. Contusions or bruises indicate more severe trauma
Scars or Marks and locations on the body. Also photographic documentation
wave test to test fluid from one side to the other in abdomen to determine fluid in the intestines.
Feet carefully examined (discolorations, marks and tumors.
Skin examined for lesions
spider angiomata - attributed to liver disease
Seborrheic Keretosis - skin lesion
Livor Mortis - blood pooling for corrobating time of death 1 hour, 12 hours and 24 hours will start to tattoo and become fixed. If livor mortis cannot be
Pettechia
Hair Samples - 100 hairs for DNA analysis and pulled by the root; hair characteristics
Vaginal examination - internally and externally; examine for secretions; SAVE kit collection
Height and weight measured
Scars recorded and documented
(All of that was External)
Internal Exam:
Y incision, beginngin in both shoulders and extending down into the abdomen. Looking for hemorrages in the soft tissue.
Abdomen open in the midline and looking for any fluid in the abdomen or blood.
ribCage opened and sawing interior ribs, removing chest plate and looking for fluid in chest cavity or blood in the lungs. (toxicology)
Blood is removed from the heart, groin and arteries for Toxicology
Urine removed from the bladder
When opening the heart, looks for blood clots
Examination of the lungs,
Liver, stomach, intestines, spleen all examined externally before internal examination.
Detailed Organ examination
Heart removed, and blood vessels checked for clots. heart is then weighed
600 grams, is roughly twice the weight of a normal heart
Lungs are removed at point of attachment (the hylum)
Lungs are then weighed
Liver removed and examined
Gall bladder examined and bile removed for toxicological examination
Spleen then removed
Bowel is then removed (stomach, pancreas removed)
Adrenal glands and kidneys then examined; kidney is then removed and bladder removed
examining the neck must be careful not to damage the hyoid bone.
thyroid is serially sectioned
Atherosclerosis
Infarction
Breadloaf cut the heart to look for infarction to look for death of cardiac muscle.
heart valve circumferences are measured.
Lungs are examined externally, looking at the pleura for scarring.
dissection of the pulmonary system
Metastasis (spreading of cancer)
Pre-mortem clot that is formed in the shape of the artery.
Liver sectioned while looking for lesions or scarring natural diseases.
Spleen manufactures white blood cells
Kidneys weighed and then sectioned.
Clot or thrombis
Prostate is also serially sectioned to examine flow of urine.
Stomach examined for lesions, ulcerations.
If there's a question, do an autopsy; if you can't determine the cause of death, you don't have a case.
Scalp is pulled back and face pulled forward and scalp tissue examined on the skull.
skull is opened with a bone saw being careful not to cut a groove in the brain. Skull cap is removed and brain is examined. Weighed and examined.
Preferred method to examine the brain is to weight until fixation (2-3 weeks)
Autopsy is the backbone of pathology.
This fella was talking VERY VERY fast; I typed as quickly as I possibly could.
Disclaimer: These are MY notes taken from classroom lectures while I'm in the classroom. While I'm perfectly happy to share my notes with my classmates and I know I take very good notes, you should still make every effort to attend the class and TAKE YOUR OWN NOTES. I will not transcribe everything the instructor says in the classroom, and I will NEVER post pre-exam reviews. My notes will not replace the value of actually attending class and taking your own class notes.I also cannot attest to their accuracy, other than they are what was provided in the lecture; you should not reference my notes as "expert opionion" by any means, and if you notice an error or omission, please do me the favor of e-mailing me with the correction and I will re-post my notes. End of Disclaimer.