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Autopsies
Autopsies
IntroBy law, deaths that occur under the following circumstances must be investigated:
Violent crime, suicide, or accident
Within 24 hours of entering a hospital or as a result of surgery
A natural death when a doctor is not present or the patient is not under the care of a medical facility
Occurs in police custody or in a correctional facility
Results from a communicable disease that may pose a threat to public health
Autopsy Basics
Performed by a forensic pathologist – a medical doctor who is trained to identify why and how someone died and present those finding in court.
At the scene – Postmortem interval is estimated (amount of time since death)
In the ME’s office:
Determine cause, manner & mechanism of death
Procedure
1) A Y-incision is made on the torso to expose the inner organs
ProcedureEach organ is removed, weighed, carefully observed, and a sample is taken and sent to appropriate people
Toxicology
Histology
Neuropathology
Serology
What to look for:Blood for DNA – ME’s collect blood from arteries for identification and toxicology (determines drug & alcohol content). Dried blood on skin could be from perpetrator
Semen – If sexual assault is suspected
Hair – a “control sample” is collected to compare to unknown hairs found at the scene
Tissue – Tissue samples are sent to histology for analysis
Fingernails – Could contain DNA from perpetrator if a violent crime
Bite Marks – Images sent to forensic odontologists
Close Up
Everything is put back in place and a “baseball stitch” Is used to close back up.
A report is made….. And yes…. They have to use complete sentences and punctuation counts.
Now you try!
Go to:
http://australianmuseum.net.au/interactive-tools/autopsy/ - You must use internet explorer!
(http://bit.do/GH6 )
Describe in 8-10 sentences the procedure of an autopsy. Points counted off for missing sentences or short sentences obviously used to fill space.
Now you try!
Go to:
http://webcom4.grtxle.com/khforensics/VirtualAutopsyPackage/VirtualAutopsy3_fs.html
( http://bit.do/GJf )
Do 2 autopsies then have the program email me the results: [email protected]
Biomolecules Review!
Carbohydrate
Proteins
Lipids
Nucleic Acids
Proteins:
Account for more than 50% of the dry mass of most cells, and are instrumental in almost everything organisms do. We will cover these in great detail. •Speed up chemical reactions•Build Muscles & Immune System•Storage•Transport
•Cellular communications•Movement•Defense against foreign substances.•WIDE range in structure
Food Examples:
Lipids: Monomer- monoglycerides and fatty acids
Polymer-Triglycerides: Glycerol, and 3 Fatty acid chains
Phospholipids
Jobs in the body:
Long-term energy storage
Makes up cell membranes
Sending messages to distant cells (hormones)
Insulation and protection of us and our cells!
Food Examples:
Carbohydrates: (sugar!)
Main source of energy for life on earth
Monomer-"Simple sugars" monosaccharides (glucose, ribose)
Jobs in the body:
Immediate energy
Labeling a cell
Cell walls in plants
Food Examples:
Nucleic Acids:
Monomer: Nucleotide
Composed of a nitrogenous base, a sugar, and a phosphate group.
Combine to form DNA
Polymer, DNA, RNA
Food Examples
Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh………
Stomach Contents Lab next class!!!
