ABMDI Demonstrating Scientific Knowledge Test with Answers
-Lack of Pulse/Respiration
-Absence of Heartbeat
-Lack of Corneal Reflex and Pupillary
Sings of Death Include: Constriction
-Coolness of the Body
-Rigor Mortis
-Livor Mortis
Stiffness of the body that sets in several
Rigor Mortis
hours after death
-Starts in the smaller muscles (jaw, ex-
tremities)
**First Indicator appears after 2-4
hours**
Rigor Mortis (Continued)
**Maximum Indicator is after 8-12
hours**
-Onset and Dissipation of rigor is rapid in
children compared to adults
The pooling of the blood in tissues after
Livor Mortis death resulting in a reddish color to the
skin
-Takes approximately 2-4 hours to devel-
op
-As interval extends, the livor becomes
Livor Mortis (Continued)
fixed and will not blanch on pressure
-Generally, livor is fixed after 8-12 hours
after death
In advance stages of livor mortis, the skin
Tardieu Spots capillaries often rupture and cause pin
point hemorrhages
-Clouding (occurring 1-2 hours)
Eye Changes after Death -Sclera Dryness (TACHE NOIR)
-Rate at which bodies cool is NOT uni-
Body Temperature
form!!!
Algor Mortis Cooling of the body after death
, ABMDI Demonstrating Scientific Knowledge Test with Answers
24 hours: greenish discoloration of right,
lower abdomen
24-36 hours: greenish discoloration of
the abdomen
36-48 hours: marbling, bloating of the
face
48-60 hours: desiccation (drying) of the
fingertips
Decomposition Patterns
60-72 hours: bloating of the body (purg-
ing)
4-7 days: skin blebs, hair sloughing, skin
slippage
days-weeks: dehydration of the body tis-
sues
weeks-months: adipocere, mummifica-
tion, skeletonization
-Examine the scalp for hidden trauma!
-Lacerations may stick together; bullet
wounds may be obscured
-Inspect ears for hemorrhage/foreign
bodies
Inspect the Body (External: Head) -Evaluate eyes for petechial hemor-
rhages, jaundice, or trauma
-Oral cavity may reveal trauma, foreign
bodies, or evidence of poor hygiene
-Nasal Septum may be perforated due to
chronic cocaine abuse
-Any identifiable trauma should be docu-
mented
-DO NOT recover specimens from neck
veins of homicide victims (it might create
trauma)
Inspect the Body (External: Neck) -View the posterior neck as well!
-Examine the neck for evidence of en-
larged lymph nodes, thyroid, and/or other
masses
-Palpate the neck with PASSIVE flexion
and extension to reveal fractures
-Lack of Pulse/Respiration
-Absence of Heartbeat
-Lack of Corneal Reflex and Pupillary
Sings of Death Include: Constriction
-Coolness of the Body
-Rigor Mortis
-Livor Mortis
Stiffness of the body that sets in several
Rigor Mortis
hours after death
-Starts in the smaller muscles (jaw, ex-
tremities)
**First Indicator appears after 2-4
hours**
Rigor Mortis (Continued)
**Maximum Indicator is after 8-12
hours**
-Onset and Dissipation of rigor is rapid in
children compared to adults
The pooling of the blood in tissues after
Livor Mortis death resulting in a reddish color to the
skin
-Takes approximately 2-4 hours to devel-
op
-As interval extends, the livor becomes
Livor Mortis (Continued)
fixed and will not blanch on pressure
-Generally, livor is fixed after 8-12 hours
after death
In advance stages of livor mortis, the skin
Tardieu Spots capillaries often rupture and cause pin
point hemorrhages
-Clouding (occurring 1-2 hours)
Eye Changes after Death -Sclera Dryness (TACHE NOIR)
-Rate at which bodies cool is NOT uni-
Body Temperature
form!!!
Algor Mortis Cooling of the body after death
, ABMDI Demonstrating Scientific Knowledge Test with Answers
24 hours: greenish discoloration of right,
lower abdomen
24-36 hours: greenish discoloration of
the abdomen
36-48 hours: marbling, bloating of the
face
48-60 hours: desiccation (drying) of the
fingertips
Decomposition Patterns
60-72 hours: bloating of the body (purg-
ing)
4-7 days: skin blebs, hair sloughing, skin
slippage
days-weeks: dehydration of the body tis-
sues
weeks-months: adipocere, mummifica-
tion, skeletonization
-Examine the scalp for hidden trauma!
-Lacerations may stick together; bullet
wounds may be obscured
-Inspect ears for hemorrhage/foreign
bodies
Inspect the Body (External: Head) -Evaluate eyes for petechial hemor-
rhages, jaundice, or trauma
-Oral cavity may reveal trauma, foreign
bodies, or evidence of poor hygiene
-Nasal Septum may be perforated due to
chronic cocaine abuse
-Any identifiable trauma should be docu-
mented
-DO NOT recover specimens from neck
veins of homicide victims (it might create
trauma)
Inspect the Body (External: Neck) -View the posterior neck as well!
-Examine the neck for evidence of en-
larged lymph nodes, thyroid, and/or other
masses
-Palpate the neck with PASSIVE flexion
and extension to reveal fractures
