Understanding common postmortem changes and the variables that affect them allows the forensic pathologist to more accurately estimate the postmortem interval.
Marbling of skin forensic.
Skin breaks down leading to blistering and skin slippage and bacterial growth in soft tissues with gaseous formation leads to bloating of the body.
From 60 to 72 hours postmortem the body exhibits generalised swelling and bloating from increased gas production by bacteria.
After death a sequence of changes naturally occurs in the human body.
When the skin comes clean off of a dead person s hands it is typically known as glove formation a phenomenon known as marbling occurs when certain types of bacteria found in the abdomen.
See air embolism pulmonary barotrauma.
Marbling over the trunk and limbs is another feature of postmortem skin decomposition caused by the spread of bacteria through the venous system.
Marbling forensic pathology venous patterning a mosaic of discoloration due to prominent subdermal vessels on the skin of a body in early decomposition decay sports medicine skin marbling mottling of skin seen in divers with pulmonary barotrauma and air embolism.
Decomposition is the process by which dead organic substances are broken down into simpler organic or inorganic matter such as carbon dioxide water simple sugars and mineral salts the process is a part of the nutrient cycle and is essential for recycling the finite matter that occupies physical space in the biosphere bodies of living organisms begin to decompose shortly after death.
This process can be seen as discolouration of the vessels marbling.
Although these changes proceed in a relatively orderly fashion a variety of external factors and intrinsic characteristics may accelerate or retard decomposition.
Internal pressures build up forcing decomposition fluids from the lungs through the mouth and nose purge fluid.
Livor mortis refers to the bluish purple discoloration lividity under the skin of the lower body parts due to gravitation of blood after death.
Onset of lividity its location and color provide information on the time and cause of death.
The skin may reveal clues to the identity of an individual and the time and method of death or injury.
Normal postmortem changes in the skin are described along with pseudopathology and damage from.
See air embolism pulmonary barotrauma.