POSTMORTEM CHANGES: A THANATOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE.

 Author: AISWARYA S, BSc. (Hons) FORENSIC SCIENCE Yenepoya University, Mangalore, Karnataka.

Thanatology is a branch of science that deals with the scientific study of death. "The basic concept is that death is the irreversible loss of the capacity for consciousness and capacity to breathe". A body undergoes complex changes after death. Postmortem changes depend on numerous factors such as temperature, season, geographical location at which the body is found etc.

Postmortem changes are being described under the following headings:

1. IMMEDIATE CHANGES: which result in irreversible cessation of functions of the brain, heart, and lungs. Muscles of the body become flaccid, and corneal reflexes are abolished.

2. EARLY CHANGES: which take place between the first 12 to 24 hours. They comprise:

Changes in the skin:

Elasticity disappears quickly after death. Skin that was translucent in life becomes pale.

Changes in the eye:

The cornea loses its luster with the passage of time. It becomes dull, hazy, and finally opaque and wrinkled.

Algor mortis: Also known as Postmortem cooling. After death, the dead body loses its heat rapidly, Measurement of the rate of cooling helps in estimating the time since death.

Livor mortis (Postmortem Lividity): The blood, which is fluid in nature, gradually settles down in the capillaries of the various parts of the body, seen externally as patches of purplish discoloration through the skin.

Rigor mortis: (cadaveric rigidity/Cadaveric stiffening): It gives muscle status after the death of a person. Rigor mortis becomes noticeable first in the eye lids, then the muscles of the face, jaw, and neck

3. LATE CHANGES

Autolysis: Just after death, the cell membranes breakdown and release enzymes that digestion.

Putrefaction: Putrefaction is the decomposition of the body carried out by the microbi (12 to 24 hours after death)

Adipocere Formation (grave wax): The fat in the body gets converted into fatty acids and combines with Calcium in the body & forms insoluble wax-like substances called adipocere. It takes about 3 weeks for adipocere to develop fully.

Mummification: A modification of the putrefaction process characterized by the desiccation. or dehydration of the cadaveric tissues. Mummification usually requires 3 to 6 months.

References:

Pillay, V.V. (2003) Handbook of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology.

Henssge C. Madea B. Estimation of the time since death.