Lacerations are tears or splits of skin, mucous membranes, muscle or internal organs produced by application of blunt force to broad area of the body, which crushed or stretched tissues beyond the limits of their elasticity. They are also called tears or ruptures. Localised portions of tissue are displaced by the impact of the blunt [...]
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Bruises or Contusions - A contusion is an effusion of blood into the tissues, due to the rupture of blood vessels (veins, venules and arterioles), caused by blunt trauma, such as fist, stone, stick, bar, whip, boot, etc. Contusions may be present not only in skin, but also in internal organs, such as the lung, heart, [...]
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Abrasions (gravel rashes) is a destruction of the skin, which usually involves the superficial layers of the epidermis only. Thickness of skin is 1.6 mm. They are caused by friction against a rough surface or by compression, such as a lateral rubbing action by a blow, a fall on a rough surface, by being dragged [...]
Continue reading …Mechanical injury - An injury is any harm, whatever illegally caused to any person in body, mind, reputation or property (Sec. 44, I.P.C.). A wound or injury is a break of the natural continuity of any of the tissues of the living body. Mechanical injury (wounds) are injuries produced by physical violence. Trauma is an injury [...]
Continue reading …Postmortem changes or Forensic traphonomy is the interdisciplinary study and interpretation of postmortem processes of human remains in the dispositional context, i.e., the history of a body following death. A knowledge of the signs of death help to differentiate death from suspended animation. The changes which take place may be helpful in estimation of the [...]
Continue reading …The interval between death, and the time of examination of a body is known as post mortem interval. This is important (1) to know when the crime was committed, (2) it gives the police a starting point for their inquiries, and allows them to deal more efficiently with the information available, (3) it might enable [...]
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Embalming a body: Emblaming is the treatment of the dead body with antiseptics and preservatives to prevent putrefaction. By this process proteins are coagulated, tissues are fixed, organs are bleached and hardened and blood is converted into a brownish mass. Embalming produces a chemical stiffening similar to rigor mortis, and normal rigor does not develop. [...]
Continue reading …Mummification is a modification of putrefaction. Dehydration or drying and shrivelling of the cadaver occurs from the evaporation of water, but the natural appearances and features of the body are preserved. It begins in the exposed parts of the body like face, hands and feet and then extends to the entire body including the internal [...]
Continue reading …Adipocere (cire=wax) is a modification of putrefaction. In this, the fatty tissues of the body change into a substance known as adipocere. It is seen most commonly in bodies immersed in water or in damp, warm environment. Mechanism: The change is due to the gradual hydrolysis and hydrogenation of pre-existing fats, such as olein, into [...]
Continue reading …Decomposition of human body involves two processes : (1) mautolysis and (2) putrefaction. Autolysis : Autolysis is Self-digestion of tissues. Soon after death, cell membranes become permeable and breakdown, with release of cytoplasm containing enzymes. Lysosomes and their digestive enzymes (mainly hydrolases) are released from the cells. The proteolytic, glycolytic and lipolytic action of ferments [...]
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