Post Mortem Changes

1
Post Mortem Changes
General Pathology Seminary 1a

• Jaroslava Dušková
• Inst. Pathol. ,1st Med. Faculty, Charles Univ.,
  Prague
• http//www1.lf1.cuni.cz/jdusk/

2
Death

• irreversible arrest
• of integrated
• organism functions

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
• insects
• worms etc.

12
Post Mortem Changes - Meaning Consequences

• physical important in medicojudical
  practice eg. algor time of death
• chemical interfering limiting all
  special methods
• biological limiting even the
  macroscopy examination