[Faline]

The internal examination allows the forensic pathologist to identify diseases and injuries at autopsy, and to collect tissue samples and certain types of evidence. In this case, showing the internal appearance of the chest, after removal of the chest plate and the anterior part of the pericardial sac, a markedly enlarged heart is evident. The structure to the left of the heart in the photograph is the right lung. Immediately below the lung is the right side of the diaphragm.


A classic postmortem injury, such as this abrasion, lacks a vital tissue reaction and appears yellow.


Tissue Changes in Putrefaction
1- Colour changes. Soon after death, bacteria from the gastro-intestinal and respiratory tract invade the blood vessels and multiply causing haemolysis of red cells. The releases hemoglobin stain the intima of the blood vessels and diffuse to the surrounding tissues giving the skin the characteristic marbling appearance. The formation of sulfhemoglobin impart an olive green discolouration to the skin.
2- The evolution of gases into the tissues. Gases accumulating in the subcutaneous tissues well lead to the formation of putrefactive bullae in the dermis. Putrefactive bullae should not be mistaken for second degree burn bullae. Putrefactive bullae are characterised of being distended with gases, containing little amount of foul smelling blood stained fluid and lack a vital tissue reaction at the base. The epidermis become easily peeled off by gentle weeping exposing the underlying dermis which dry up and acquire a yellowish brown parchment appearance. The epidermis of the hands and feet are separated in gloves and socks fashion. Gases accumulating in soft tissues of the face will result in puffing up of the face with protrusion of the tongue and eye balls and obliteration of facial features beyond recognition. Gases accumulating in the chest and abdominal cavities will result in expulsion of faeces from the rectum, expulsion of a fetus from a gravid uterus and expulsion of gastric contents through the mouth and nose. The liquefied lung tissue is expelled through the nostrils as a foul smelling,thick and bloody froth.
Ultimatly the tension of gases accumulating in the abdominal cavity will result in bursting of the abdomen. The evolution of gases will result in floatation of immersed bodies.
3- Liquefaction of soft tissues. The evolution of gases into internal organs in the early stages of the process impart a swiss cheese appearance to the organs. Gradual liquefaction of internal organs take place and it become doughy foul smelling masses in their fibrous capsules which resist liquefaction for a longer period. The prostate and non-gravid uterus resist these changes for a considerable period of time and identification of sex may be possible in cases of advance putrefaction.


The dark discoloration of the sclera (the white part of the eye) is a common early postmortem change, known as tache noire.


Examination of the removed heart includes serially sectioning the major coronary arteries which are embedded in the epicardial fat. This photo shows the anterior (front) of the heart, after these serial cuts have been made.

[Faline]

Velocities Of Blood Spatter


The velocity of the blood spatter when it strikes a surface is, within certain limitations, a strong and reasonably reliable indicator of the speed of the force that set the blood in motion in the first place.The classification of the velocity (whether high,medium, or low) is that of the initial force causing the blood to move, rather than the speed of the blood itself as it moves, and is measured in feet per second (fps). High velocity blood spatter, for in-stance, may have come from a gunshot wound inflicted by a bullet moving at 900 fps,whereas medium velocity may have resulted from a spurting artery or a blunt instrument striking the already bloody head or limb of a victim, and low velocity blood may have dripped from a wound or blood-soaked item.


High Velocity
High velocity blood spatter is produced by an external force greater than 100fps. The stains, sometimes referred to as a mist, tend to be less than 1 millimeter.Usually created by gunshots or explosives,high velocity patterns also may result from industrial machinery or even expired air,such as coughing or sneezing. In any case,the spatter tends to come from tiny drops of blood propelled into the air by an explosive force. High velocity droplets travel the shortest distance because of the resistance of the air against their small mass.


Medium Velocity
An external force of greater than 5 fps but less than 25 fps causes medium blood spatter. The stains generally measure 1 to 3millimeters. Blunt or sharp trauma, often
from knives, hatchets, clubs, fists, and arterial spurts, can produce such stains.Most medium velocity stains found at crime and accident scenes form patterns created by blood flying from a body to a surface as a result of blunt or sharp trauma or the body colliding with rounded or edged surfaces. It may result from a punch,stabbing, or a series of blows or, in the case of an accident, the body striking surfaces inside or out-side a vehicle. Any object that blocks the blood from falling on the surface where it would have landed, including the victim or the attacker’s body or a piece of furniture moved to stage the scene,creates a void space in the stain.

Low Velocity
Low velocity blood spatter is created by an external force less than 5 fps (normal gravity) with the stains generally 3 millimeters and larger. It usually results from blood dripping from a person walking or running or from a bloody weapon.Dripping blood often falls at a 90-degree angle and forms a 360-degree circumference stain when it hits a flat surface, depending, of course, on the texture of the surface. Investigators also may find low velocity blood spatter in the trail of an individual who is bleeding with larger pools of blood indicating where the person paused.

[Viking64]

All of a sudden, I feel that I'm not ready to go just yet.

[Billthegravedigger]

I am with you Viking !!

[Steve]

Interesting stuff Kel.

[Sharon]

Nice

[kayo brizzle]

Cool pics.

[Pelle]

Wow, great pics and info Kel!

[The Driver]

i like this kind of post

[durt]

thanks Kelly!