Death+Chap+JO

Class Notes

Death: -Blood stops circulating and cant start again -End of life -Heart stops -Body cannot function on its own (life support necessary) -cessation of life -cessation of brain activity

No real definition: it is undefinable because no one knows what happens after death, if it is truly non existence. this will conjure the question what is life? Death is of the body, but is it of the mind?

What happens to you when you die: -The heart stops, and when it does the cells no longer get blood and or any oxygen. -Aerobic respiration stops: Chemical process by which oxygen is used to make energy (ATP) from carbohydrates (sugars) -Muscles made of two fiber types that work together, they "lock" and "unlock" during muscle contraction. The locking and unlocking is controlled by biochemical pathway within the cell that depends on the presence of oxygen. -High levels of calcium within the cell stimulate muscle contraction. In order for them to relax, calcium must be removed from cell. -The lack of oxygen and lack of energy make it impossible to remove calcium within the cell. -As calcium levels rise, muscles remain contracted "rigor mortis" which continues until muscle proteins begin to decompose.

Murder Scene Forensic Pathologist: Coroner or medical examiner that relates the study of medicine to law When they arrive what questions need be asked: -When did injuries occur -How did they die- type of injuries -What caused them- How did they happen (were produced) -(Sometimes) Where did it occur -Who they are- Identity

On Report

Cause of death: immediate reason someone dies Manner of Death: The ways someone can die; -After Autopsy performed MoD in 5 categories: 1. Natural: interruption or failure of body organs (heart attack) 2. Accidental: unplanned event (ex: car crash or falling off ladder) 3. Homicidal: when someone kills someone else 4. Suicide: one takes his/ her own life 5. Undetermined

Mechanism of Death describes specific change in the body that brought along death (ex: Heart stopping)

Ex: Manner: homicide, Cause: shooting, Mechanism: loss of blood

Estimating time of death: look at stages of decomposition: 1. Mortises -Rigor Mortis: a condition immediately following death when the muscles relax and then become rigid. it manifests itself within 24 hrs. 6 effecting factors: 1. Ambient Temp. 2. Weight/ Size 3. Type of clothing 4. Illness 5. Level of Physical activity before death 6. Sun exposure 3-6 involve temp.

-Liver Mortis: (About the blood) When heart tops pumping blood the blood begins to settle in the parts of the body closets to the ground. (A.k.a. Lavidity)-> pooling of blood in the body if good: it determines whether body has been moved) -Starts almost immediately; continuous- 12hrs

-Algor Mortis: (Body temp) Process by which the body temp continually cools after death until it reaches room temp. - begins 1 hour after death; body loses heat 1-1.5 degrees F per hour -thermometer inserted into liver Factors Affecting: 1. Location 2. Weight/ size 3. Clothing 4. Weather 5. Activities

2. Determination of K Levels in ocular fluid surrounding eye 3. Amt. of food in stomach -takes about 24 hrs for undigested food to release from large intestine after eating.(stomach, small intestine, large intestine empty) - Stomach empty, food in small intestine - 4-6 hr since last meal -undigested stomach contents -0-2 hrs after last meal

4. Forensic Entomology: Scientific study of insects and their relation to criminal investigation. -Identify specific insects present on body -examine the stage of developement of fly larvae and back calculate the time of death

Blow flies are first to arrive (infest body) -lay eggs maggots- consume body tissue