The Autopsy
The initial phase of the autopsy where the body’s condition, clothing, and identifying marks are recorded.
What is the external examination?
Injury caused by a dull object, such as a bat or metal pipe.
What is blunt force injury?
Death due to an unintentional cause of harm
What is accidental death?
What is algor mortis?
The body was found in a house fire and contains high amounts of carbon monoxide in its blood.
What is death by asphyxiation?
During this procedure, a Y-shaped incision is made to inspect and remove internal organs.
What is the internal examination?
Damage due to a slice and not crushing.
What is a sharp force injury?
Death caused by another individual rather than oneself.
What is a homicide?
What is stomach content?
There is a lot of blood that appears to be arterial spurts, vertical cast-offs, and the victim has defensive wounds on their arms.
What is sharp-force injury?
Small tissue and fluid samples are collected during this step for microscopic analysis.
What is histology or microscopic examination?
Death that results in the formation of petechiae under the eyelids.
What is asphyxiation?
Used when reasonable classification of death is not possible.
What is undetermined?
Will fade after 36 hours from death?
What is rigor mortis?
A gunshot victim is found with a plus-shaped wound on the temple.
What is suicide by gunshot wound?
This testing determines the presence of drugs, alcohol, or poisons in the deceased.
What is toxicology testing?
Death in which the investigation will look at the range of residue left on the victim
What is a gunshot wound?
Prolonged substance abuse is categorized as this form of death.
What is natural death?
Comes from the words "bruise of death"
What is livor mortis?
Full lividity is set on the back of the body and hasn't been moved.
What is 8 - 16 hours after death?
The pathologist completes this final written summary containing the official cause and manner of death.
What is the autopsy report?
The most common form of death within the U.S.
What is substance abuse?
Death resulting from grossly negligent, reckless, or intentional actions of another person.
What is homicide?
This process is the result of livor mortis, in which the lowest point of the body settles.
What is full lividity?
The victim is found with petechiae in their eyelids, a rope around their neck, and a broken hyoid bone.
What is homicide by strangulation?