Post Mortem Changes by Dr Nikhil Bansal

1. POST-MORTEM CHANGES
SEMINAR, 25TH AUG 2008
DR Nikhil Bansal
J.N.M.C.,Wardha

2. Overview
 Death
 Definition and Type
 Classification
 Time Since Death
 Different Changes After Death

3. Death
o Total irreversible cessation of cerebral
function, spontaneous function of respiratory
system and circulatory system.
o The medico legal study of death falls with in
the unit of forensic science.

4. Types of Death – Somatic
Death
 The term death as commonly employed
means somatic death
 It is due to complete and irreversible cessation
of vital function of brain followed by cessation
of function of heart & lungs.

5. Signs of Somatic Death
(Immediate)

6. Cellular/Molecular Death
 After somatic death tissue & cells survive for a
varying period depending on the O2
requirement.
 When these individual tissues & cell die, it is
termed as cellular molecular death.
 It is generally complete in 3-4 hours of somatic
death.

7. Signs of Molecular Death

8. Time Since Death & Body
Condition
Time Since Death Body Condition
Less than 1 hr Body warm
3 hrs Patchy post-mortem lividity
6-8 hrs Lividity fully developed & fix
12 hrs • Rigor present all over
• Green patches over Caecum
24-36 hrs • Body cold and rigor recceds
• Ova of flies seen
• Green discolouration – adbo, chest
• Abdo distend with gas
48 hrs • Trunk bloated
• Face decolouration
• Swollen blister present
• Moving maggots seen

9. Time Since Death & Body
Condition
Time Since Death Body Condition
72 hrs • Whole body discoloured
• Hair and nail loss
• Tissue soft and discolourised
1 week Soft viscera putrefied
2 weeks Only the more resistant viscera
distinguishable
1-3 months Body is skeletonized

10. Changes After Death (Early
Signs)

11. Rigor Mortis:-

12. Cadaveric Spasm:-

13. Changes After Death (Late
Signs)

14. Putrefaction:-

15. Adipocere Formation:-

16. Mummification:-

17. 17 Thanks!
Seminar on Post-mortem Changes by Dr Nikhil
Bansal