4-A THANATOLOGY CHANGES AFTER DEATH IMMEDIATE EARLY & LATE SKIN & EYE CHANGES

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CHANGES OCCURRING AFTER DEATH.
Immediate
.Early
.Late

Occurrence of somatic death is based upon the knowledge of “Signs Of Death” and they are helpful to differentiate between Death from Suspended animation.

Signs of death, moreover pursuits an estimation of the time at which death had occurred and this may be important in relation to death investigation.

Police will not only wish to know how the victim died but also like to know since how long he/she is dead.

Estimation of time since death is rationally one of the most difficult and inaccurate technique in Forensic Pathology.

No single test is dependable, and all the possible evidences must be correlated to try to arrive at some sensible Time Bracket called as “Bracket Of Probability” within which death could have occurred.

So it gives a range from an earliest to the latest time of Occurrence of Death.
A. IMMEDIATE SIGNS

These are the changes, which are noted at the time of death and within a few minutes of death.
Mainly they comprise of “Traditional Signs Of Death”.

On these signs usually the diagnosis of death is made and more over they also exclude apparent death or suspended animation.
A. Primary Flaccidity & Loss Of Reflexes (Loss Of Innervation)
Insensibility and loss of voluntary power to move. (Not a sure sign of death)
Jaw drops, Chest collapses, Limbs becomes flaccid, Relaxation of Facial muscles makes the person look younger
A. Primary Flaccidity & Loss Of Reflexes (Loss Of Innervation)
c. Iris assumes mid position & Sphincters relaxes
d. Wounds inflicted in this stage will not gape as in ante-mortem wounds.

B. Cessation Of Circulation With Flat ECG

No ECG and a straight isoelectric line, shows NO CARDIAC ACTIVITY .
(These two signs A+B are sure signs of death)
B. Cessation Of Circulation With Flat ECG
No ECG and a straight isoelectric line, shows NO CARDIAC ACTIVITY .
(These two signs A+B are sure signs of death)

C. Cessation of Neuronal Activity

D. Cessation of Respiration Or Apnea

E. SKIN CHANGES

Skin elasticity is lost
Skin luster is lost
Lips dark in color due to drying but in case of hypoxic deaths the color of mouth and lips remain red or blue

E. SKIN CHANGES
Skin elasticity is lost
Skin luster is lost
Lips dark in color due to drying but in case of hypoxic deaths the color of mouth and lips remain red or blue
Changes in the Color Of The Skin
As soon as the circulation stops, blood is drained from the capillaries & venules of skin and the skin goes pale (especially on non-dependent areas).
But this is not a constant feature as in deaths where there is a prolonged agonal period, pallor is not seen rather it becomes bluish black (Asphyxial Deaths).
In CO poisoning and in deaths due to hypothermia, face is pink as in life.
Changes in the Color Of The Skin……..
As soon as the circulation stops, blood is drained from the capillaries & venules of skin and the skin goes pale (especially on non-dependent areas).

Changes in the Color Of The Skin……..
In CO poisoning and in deaths due to hypothermia, face is pink as in life.
Eye Changes

F. Eye Changes
c. Corneal reflex is also absent
d. Cloudiness or Haziness of Cornea within 10 minutes after death, if the eyes are open & atmosphere is dry. However this haziness can be removed by placing just few drops of water.
Eye Changes……….
Ophthalmo - Scopy (Examination of Retina)
Eye Changes……….
Cattle Tracking
Retinal vessels becomes dotted and segmented. It reveals stasis of blood and Fragmentation (Segmentation) of blood columns, known as Cattle Tracking. This phenomenon can be observed within 10 seconds after death in 85% of cases.

eye changes cont.….
Taches Noire's appear on sclera within three hour if eyes remain opened (brownish black discoloration on the sclera due to deposition of cellular debris and dust)


f). Optic disc becomes pale
g). Pupils which were dilated fixed initially but after development of rigor mortis becomes constricted but fixed.

h). Pupils may be unequal in narcotic poisoning
i). Potassium contents of the vitreous rises steadily

j). Tone of eye ball falls.
k). Intra-ocular pressure falls to Zero within two hours. (Normal 20-22 mm of Hg)