Autopsy Vocabulary

A physician, licensed to practice medicine, usually trained in pathology, particularly forensic pathology.

• Coroner

• Medical Examiner

• Autopsy

• Emergency Medical Technician

Inordinate compression of the neck that leads to unconsciousness or death, by causing an increased hypoxic state in the brain.

• Asphyxia

• Exsanguination

• Strangulation

• Bloating

Pertains to legal matters and incorporates the science.

• Autopsy

• Forensics

• Manner of Death

• Cause of Death

Muscular rigidity which develops in a cadaver, usually from 4-10 hours after death and lasts about 24 hours.

• Livor Mortis

• Algor Mortis

• Rikin Morty

• Rigor Mortis

A legal document signed by a physician or other designated authority, that identifies the deceased, as well as declares the cause date, time, and location of death.

• Death Certificate

• Autopsy

• Manner of Death

• Mechanism of Death

The state of body decomposition.

• Asphyxia

• Exsanguination

• Rigor Mortis

• Putrefaction

Hemolyzed blood within superficial veins turns a black color and appears as a weblike pattern of blood vessels in the face, chest, abdomen and extremeties.

• Marbling

• Ashyxia

• Bloating

• Livor Mortis

Process by which blood settles to the dependent portions of the body, causing a deep purple discoloration of the skin. occurs within 2-4 hours and becomes "fixed" within 8-12 hours.

• Marbling

• Livor Mortis

• Rigor Mortis

• Algor Mortis

The fashion in which the cause of death came into being. These are normally classified as Natural, Accident, Homicide, Suicide, or Undetermined.

• Cause of Death

• Mechanism of Death

• Faces of Death

• Manner of Death

A condition caused by the inadequate intake of oxygen.

• Bloating

• Putrefaction

• Exsanguination

• Asphyxia

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS1-7

NGSS.HS-LS2-3