Postmortem Changes
A body is cool to the touch but muscles are still relaxed. Which postmortem change is occurring?
Algor mortis
Algor mortis is most useful for estimating PMI during approximately what time period after death?
The first 12 hours
A county uses an elected official to oversee death investigations, and autopsies are performed by contracted physicians. What is this system called?
Coroner system
A person dies from complications of lung cancer. Identify the manner of death.
Natural
A body is found in a refrigerator two days after death. Compared to a body at room temperature, decomposition would be:
Slower
A body’s jaw and arms are stiff about 6–8 hours after death. Which process explains this?
Rigor mortis
Two bodies are found with the same body temperature. One is indoors at room temperature and one is outdoors on a cold night. Which PMI estimate is more reliable and why?
The indoor case; environmental temperature affects cooling rate outdoors
At a scene, investigators must determine whether medications, injuries, or the environment may have contributed to death before the autopsy occurs. Which role is responsible for collecting this information?
Medicolegal death investigator
A victim is shot and dies from blood loss. Identify both the cause and mechanism of death.
Cause: Gunshot wound; Mechanism: Exsanguination
A body decomposes faster in summer than winter. What is the main reason?
Higher temperatures increase bacterial and insect activity
A body is found lying face down, but livor mortis is visible on the back. What does this suggest?
The body was moved
A body temperature is measured at 35.4°C. Using algor mortis, estimate PMI.
About 2 hours
A body is transported from a scene to a morgue for initial examination. Which professional performs that initial examination?
Coroner
A victim falls from a ladder, hits his head, and dies. Identify a possible mechanism of death.
Brain swelling, brain bleed, brain contusion
Two bodies are found:
• One buried underground
• One exposed on the surface
Which decomposes faster and why?
Surface body; more oxygen, insects, and temperature variation accelerate decomposition
A body shows livor mortis that does not change when repositioned. What conclusion can investigators draw?
Livor mortis is fixed; death occurred several hours earlier
Investigators calculate PMI using body temperature, but the body was found submerged in cold water. Would their estimate likely be too high or too low, and why?
Too high; water speeds heat loss, making the body cool faster
A suspicious death requires both scene investigation and medical examination of organs. Which two roles are primarily responsible for these steps?
Medicolegal death investigator and forensic pathologist
A person dies from respiratory failure caused by drug toxicity. Identify the cause and mechanism of death.
Cause: Drug toxicity; Mechanism: Respiratory failure
A body is swollen and has a strong odor due to bacterial gas. What process and stage is this?
Putrefaction, bloated stage
A body is cool, stiff in the arms and legs, and livor mortis is present but not fixed. Estimate the approximate PMI range using postmortem changes only.
Roughly 6–12 hours
Investigators estimate PMI using algor mortis, but the victim had a high fever before death. Would the PMI be overestimated or underestimated, and why?
Underestimated; starting body temperature was higher than assumed so it would take longer than calculated
A body has injuries that could be either accidental or intentional. Which role has the authority to officially classify the manner of death?
Medical examiner
A victim dies from a stab wound inflicted during a fight. Evidence suggests the stabbing was intentional but in self-defense. What is the cause, mechanism, and manner of the death?
stabbing, exsanguination, homicide
Cells begin breaking down due to their own enzymes shortly after death. What process and stage is this?
Autolysis, Fresh Stage