MMSC 230, Forensic Pathology, Fire Death,
Asphyxia, Drowning Extreme Temperature
Death, Electrocution
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Terms in this set (33)
Lack of O2 in the blood --> failure to utilize O2 -->
asphyxia definition
failure of the body to eliminate CO2
Mechanical obstruction or occlusion of external
airways (nose and mouth)
smothering - Homicide—pillow over face, gag over nose or
mouth
- Smothering agents—fabric, sheet, pillow, hand
- mechanical pressure on the neck
- frequently accompanies sexual assault
strangulation
(women>men)
- hands, ligature, arm-lock, garrote
- Petechial hemorrhages
- Blood in nares and ears
strangulation physical
- Visceral congestion
findings
- Injury to deep structures of the neck
- Occlusion of neck veins
- Rupture of small venules due to rise in venous
pressure
- Less pressure for jugular veins (superficial)
petechial hemorrhages - More pressure for carotid arteries (deeper)
- Neither specific or sensitive
--> seen in CPR, different body positions, severe
retching
, - Specialized examination in strangulation cases
- All organs are removed including brain
- Layer by layer dissection of strap muscles
neck dissection - Thyroid gland examination
- Hyoid bone
--> Fractured or contused soft tissue around it
- Thyroid cartilage
- Reduction of oxygen in inhaled air
- Most common replacement of oxygen by other
gases (CO2 in grain
suffocation
silo, nitrogen in ship tanks, industrial metal
chambers, refineries)
- Plastic bag over head common suicide method
- Restriction of respiratory movements and
preventing inspiration:
--> Burial in earth after collapse of excavation
--> Pinned under overturned vehicle
traumatic asphyxia
--> Crushing in crowd
- Autopsy findings
--> Marked congestion and cyanosis in chest wall
--> Bleeding from ears and nose
- Person's position leads to mechanical obstruction
of respiration
- Common in infants, patients with cerebral palsy or
positional asphyxia under influence of
drugs or alcohol
- Usually accidental
--> cosleeping, baby bjorns, crib bumpers
Judicial hanging, unlike suicide, the mechanism of
death is fracture/dislocation of cervical vertebrae
hanging C1/C2 or C2/C3
- death immediate due to compression of brain stem
and respiratory collapse
Asphyxia, Drowning Extreme Temperature
Death, Electrocution
Save
Terms in this set (33)
Lack of O2 in the blood --> failure to utilize O2 -->
asphyxia definition
failure of the body to eliminate CO2
Mechanical obstruction or occlusion of external
airways (nose and mouth)
smothering - Homicide—pillow over face, gag over nose or
mouth
- Smothering agents—fabric, sheet, pillow, hand
- mechanical pressure on the neck
- frequently accompanies sexual assault
strangulation
(women>men)
- hands, ligature, arm-lock, garrote
- Petechial hemorrhages
- Blood in nares and ears
strangulation physical
- Visceral congestion
findings
- Injury to deep structures of the neck
- Occlusion of neck veins
- Rupture of small venules due to rise in venous
pressure
- Less pressure for jugular veins (superficial)
petechial hemorrhages - More pressure for carotid arteries (deeper)
- Neither specific or sensitive
--> seen in CPR, different body positions, severe
retching
, - Specialized examination in strangulation cases
- All organs are removed including brain
- Layer by layer dissection of strap muscles
neck dissection - Thyroid gland examination
- Hyoid bone
--> Fractured or contused soft tissue around it
- Thyroid cartilage
- Reduction of oxygen in inhaled air
- Most common replacement of oxygen by other
gases (CO2 in grain
suffocation
silo, nitrogen in ship tanks, industrial metal
chambers, refineries)
- Plastic bag over head common suicide method
- Restriction of respiratory movements and
preventing inspiration:
--> Burial in earth after collapse of excavation
--> Pinned under overturned vehicle
traumatic asphyxia
--> Crushing in crowd
- Autopsy findings
--> Marked congestion and cyanosis in chest wall
--> Bleeding from ears and nose
- Person's position leads to mechanical obstruction
of respiration
- Common in infants, patients with cerebral palsy or
positional asphyxia under influence of
drugs or alcohol
- Usually accidental
--> cosleeping, baby bjorns, crib bumpers
Judicial hanging, unlike suicide, the mechanism of
death is fracture/dislocation of cervical vertebrae
hanging C1/C2 or C2/C3
- death immediate due to compression of brain stem
and respiratory collapse
