students will investigate various aspects of death and dying
TRANSCRIPT
Students will investigate various aspects of death and dying.
Unit 7 Mortality
Anatomical Position
Superior, Inferior
Anterior, Posterior
Dorsal, VentralMedial, LateralProximal, DistalBilateral,
UnilateralDeep,
SuperficialParietal, VisceralSupine, ProneBody CavitiesBody QuadrantsBody RegionsAccidental deathSuicidal deathHomicidal deathNatural deathUndetermined
deathAutopsyAlgor MortisRigor MortisTaphonomyPutrefactionBlack
PutrefactionDry decayButyric
fermentation
Vocabulary
ANATOMICAL POSITION The position where the body is standing with
the arms at the sides and the palms forward. Of importance in anatomy because it is the
position of reference for anatomical terms. Anatomic terms such as anterior and posterior,
medial and lateral, abduction and adduction, and so on apply to the body when it is in the anatomical position.
Body PlanesHuman movements are described in three dimensions
based on a series of planes and axis. There are three planes of motion that pass through the human body.sagittal plane frontal plane transverse (horizontal) plane
The sagittal plane lies vertically and divides the body into right and left parts.
The frontal plane also lies vertically however divides the body into anterior and posterior parts.
The transverse plane lies horizontally and divides the body into superior and inferior parts.
Body Planes
Directional TermsAnterior: Toward or on the front of the body: in front of
The pectorals are on the anterior aspect of the bodyPosterior: Towards or on the back of the body: behind
The rhomboids are on the posterior aspect of the bodySuperior: Toward the head or upper part of a structure:
above The humerus is superior to the radius
Inferior: Toward the lower part of a structure: below The tibia is inferior to the femur
Medial: Toward or at the midline of the body: inner side The adductors are on medial to the abductors
Lateral: Away form the midline of the body: outer side The abductors are on the lateral aspect of the leg
Directional TermsProximal: Closer to the origin of a point of reference
The elbow is proximal to the wristDistal: Further from the origin or point of reference
The foot is distal to the kneeDorsal: Near the upper surface, toward the back
The vertebrae are dorsal to the heart.Ventral: Toward the bottom, toward the belly
The liver is ventral to the stomach.Deep: Towards the interior or inside of.
The pancreas is deep to the liver.Superficial: Towards the surface or outside of.
The skin is superficial to the muscles.
Parietal: of or relating to the walls of a part or cavity; of, relating to, or forming the upper posterior wall of the head The parietal wall of the abdomen.
Visceral: felt in or as if in the internal organs of the body; of, relating to, or located on or among the viscera The pain was visceral.
Supine: Lying down with the face upwardsThe body was in the supine position in preparation of
an appendectomy.Prone: Lying down with face downwards
The body was found in a prone position.
BODY CAVITIES1. Dorsal cavity
a. cranial cavityb. spinal cavity
2. Ventral Cavitya. abdominal cavityb. pelvic cavityc. thoracic cavity
Body Quadrants1. Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)2. Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)3. Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)4. Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)
What organs are in each quadrant?
Body Regions1. Right hypochondriac2. Epigastric3. Left hypochondriac4. Right lumbar5. Umbilical6. Left Lumbar7. Right inguinal8. Hypogastric9. Left inguinal
What organs are in each region?
Manner vs Method (cause) of DeathThe MANNER of a person's death is a legal
determination or finding based on evidence and opinion.There are 5 types of manners of death
The METHOD (cause) of death is a medical determination or finding based on evidence and opinion. Asphyxia, gunshot, stabbing, blunt force
trauma, cancer, etc.
Accidental, Suicidal, Homicidal, Natural, Undetermined
A. Accidental death: Death that happens by chance and was not planned or expected.
B. Suicidal death: The intentional taking of one’s own life.
C. Homicidal death: The act of a human killing another human being. Often called murder.
D. Natural death: Death that occurs from physiological or biological functions. This is the cause of the majority of deaths.
E. Undetermined death: Reason(s) for death cannot be determined/proven.
Five different manners of Death
Autopsy
Tupac Skakur: post-autopsy photo: “The official cause of death was noted as respiratory failure and cardiopulmonary arrest in connection with multiple gunshot wounds.[“ Wikipedia
An autopsy is done by a coroner or pathologist. It reveals the cause of death, approximate time of
death and weapons that were used in the death. Permission from the next of kin must be obtained
when the law does not require an autopsy to be done.
An autopsy procedure: http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/
science/health-human-body-sci/human-body/real-csi-sci.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/visibleproofs/galleries/media/autopsy/index.html
Autopsy Procedure
Steps of an autopsy procedure1. External examination performed
Photographed from head to toeAll physical characteristics documentedBody measured, weighed and x-rayed.Fingerprints obtained.
2. Y-shaped incision madeDeep cut made from the front of each shoulder to
the bottom end of the sternum; then to the pubic bone.
Skin peeled back with the top flap placed over the face.
Steps of an Autopsy
Steps of an autopsy procedure3. Internal examination
Chest cavity opened with an electric saw.Ribs are sawn off and the anterior chest wall is cut
away to expose the organs that are underneath.4. Internal organs removed and weighed5. Brain is removed
Skull is cut with an electric saw to create a cap.Then a transverse incision is made through the
brainstem so the brain can be removed.
Steps of an Autopsy
Steps of an autopsy procedure6. Intestines are drained7. Stomach is opened and drained8. Samples are taken from the tissues and
organs.9. Major blood vessels are cut open and
examined.10. Internal organs returned to the body and
the head and chest are sewn up.
Steps of an Autopsy
Visual examinationOrgan examinationWound/trauma marks analyzedToxicology reports (drugs, alcohol, etc – blood
work)Histology reports (slides of tissues – cancer,
etc)Cause of Death vs. Manner vs. Mechanism
What was the body’s physical reason for death (cause).
What caused the physical reason for death (manner)
Determining Cause of Death through evidence from an autopsy
Malcolm X
Jon Benet Ramsey medical reporthttp://crimeshots.com/AutopsyReport.html
Taphonomy is science that studies decomposition over time.
Decomposition rates are HIGHLY VARIABLE. The days listed in the next section are based on temperatures of 70-90 degrees with moderate to lower humidity.
Stages of decomposition1. Fresh stage
a. Occurs in the first few days, 0-3 daysb. Autolysis begins- destruction of cells and organsc. Algor mortis occursd. Attracts insects that begin to lay eggs
Taphonomy: AKA Decomp
2. Putrefaction stage (days 4-10)a. Follows the fresh stage until about day 10
post mortemb. Odor, color change and bloating occur to the
bodyc. A green color begins in the abdomen and
spreads throughout the body because the bacteria within the body is breaking down.
d. Skin in fragile and the body hairs fall offBlack Putrefaction days 10-20
Taphonomy: AKA Decomp
Butyric Fermentation stagea. Body odor is lostb. Body begins to dry out and becomes
mummifiedC. Days 20-50
http://australianmuseum.net.au/image/Butyric-fermentation-20-to-50-days
Taphonomy: AKA Decomp
5. Dry Decay stagea. Slow and longest stage of decomposition 50-
375 daysb. Body becomes skeletonized: deterioration of
the skeletal remains
Taphonomy: AKA Decomp
Rigidity of the skeletal muscles after death.After death the muscles relax and release ATP
as the muscle breaks down making the muscles become rigid.
Begins in the smaller muscles of the jaw, neck and face.
Noticeable stiffness will occur within 3 hours of death.
Rigor mortis is affected by the environmental factors
Rigor mortis
Postmortem lividity The pooling of the blood in the body after the
heart stops. Indicated the position of the body at the time
of death.Begins within a half of an hour following
death.Most evident at approximately 12 hours
following death.After 12 hours the discoloration will not move
no matter how the body is disturbed.
Livor mortis
The cooling rate of the body after deathAs soon as the body dies there is no longer metabolic
functions that keep the body at 98.6 degrees F.The body temperature will begin to even out with the
surrounding environment.Consideration to the type of clothes, the surface area to
body mass and surrounding conditions must be evaluated.Most accurate temperature to determine time of death
should be taken within 1-36 hours of death.The body will cool at a rate of 1-1.5 degrees F per hour
until it reaches the environmental temperature.However, very difficult to correctly determine due to all
the factors which can alter the cooling rate.
Algor mortis
Only certain insects will feed and lay eggs on a dead corpses. Entomologist study the state of development of insects living on a corpse and count back the days to determine time of death.
Most insects follow a sequential life cycle of growth from a fertilized egg to a mature adult. This occurs in four stages.
Insect life cycles (Entomology)
Adult green blow fly
Adult Greenbottle Fly
Adult Bluebottle fly
Adult Red-tailed Flesh Fly
Adult Hairy Rove Beetle
Adult Hide Beetle
Blow Fly Life CycleAdult flies lay eggs on a cadaver within minutes of
death.Each adult fly can lay up to 250 eggs.Within 24 hours these eggs hatch and begin feeding.After several hours, first-stage maggots molt into
second-stage maggots (bigger size). These feed for several more hours until they molt into third-stage maggots (largest).
Masses of third stage maggots can increase the temp around them up to 10 degrees C!
Third-stage maggots crawl away from the food source to turn into a pupa.
The pupa molts into an adult blow fly.
Egg: Deposited by female insect within minutes following death in natural openings and open wounds.
Stage 1
Contact: Pam [email protected], Education & Research Foundation
Larvae: Newly hatched wingless and wormlike form of the insect. Immature stage before metamorphosis occurs. For example a caterpillar, grub or maggot.
Stage 2
Pupa: Non-feeding stage between larvae and adult. During this stage metamorphosis occurs and the insect hides itself in a cocoon or similar structure.
Stage 3
Adult: After all changes have occurred and the insect is fully mature.
Stage 4
Temperature of the environment and the season.Availability of oxygen and air movement.Surrounding condition and surface the body is resting
on.Humidity.Rainfall.Clothing the person dressing in or wrapped in.Type of burial.Access of scavengers and insects to the body.Person body size and weight.Cause of death.Any traumatic injuries or wounds.
Environmental factors related to time of death
In the right circumstances, a body can become at least partially skeletonized 24 hours after death!