Assessment | Death Investigation 2024 MS

Front

What is rigor mortis?

Back

Rigor mortis is the post-mortem stiffening of the muscles due to lack of oxygen and accumulation of lactic acid in the muscles.

Front

What factors influence the rate of cooling of a deceased body?

Back

The rate of cooling can be influenced by location of the body, exposure to direct sunlight, weather conditions, and size of the body.

Front

True or False: Permanent discoloration of a corpse can indicate the position of the body at the time of death.

Back

True. It can also indicate if something was blocking the flow of blood.

Front

What is the expected temperature of a body that has been deceased for 42 hours?

Back

15.94 Celsius.

Front

If a body has an internal temperature of 22.74C, how long has it been deceased?

Back

24.5 hours.

Front

What is the significance of lactic acid accumulation in muscles post-mortem?

Back

It is a key factor in the development of rigor mortis.

Front

How does body size affect post-mortem cooling?

Back

Larger bodies retain heat longer than smaller bodies, affecting the cooling rate.

Front

What role does environmental temperature play in post-mortem body temperature?

Back

Higher environmental temperatures can accelerate the cooling process, while lower temperatures can slow it down.

Front

Define algor mortis.

Back

Algor mortis is the cooling of the body after death, which occurs at a predictable rate.

Front

What is the average rate of body cooling after death?

Back

The average rate is approximately 1.5 degrees Celsius per hour, but it can vary based on conditions.