Autopsies

Part I

To prepare for the lesson about autopsies, complete the first two columns about what you know and what you need to know about autopsies. After the lesson, following directions from your teacher, complete the third column. Specific topics to address are:

  1. Definition4.Role of Coroner, Medical Examiner,

Pathologist

  1. Purpose5.Reasons to do one
  2. Legal requirements6.Procedure

What do I know about Autopsies

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What would I like to learn about autopsies

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What I learned about autopsies.

Part II

Click on the following links to view an interactive clip and videos on autopsies. There may be some disturbing content so please be aware that they are optional.

Autopsy Videos

(Optional!!! Warning: May be difficult to Watch)

Readings

View the following notes. This will be your notes for this section of the unit.

  1. Definition and purpose – to see with ones own eyes; to learn about health of person

when alive and the cause of death

B.Legal requirements

1.Coroner

2.Medical examiner

3.Pathologist

C.Reasons for autopsy

1.Determine which disease or injury caused death

2.Diagnosis - confirmation and understanding

3.Evaluate possible public health issue

D.Preparation

1.If not required by law, permission needed from next of kin

2.Legal consent form

E.Procedure

1.Complete medical history and review of records

2.External physical exam

a.Body tag

b.Weight and height

c.Clothing and valuables identified

d.Scars, tattoos, injuries, wounds, bruises recorded

e.Foreign objects noted

3.Photos and x-rays taken, if needed

4.Complete internal exam

a.Dissection of head and abdomen

b.Organs removed, weighed, measured, and examined

c.Tissue samples examined under microscope

d.Fluid samples tested for drugs, infection

5.After autopsy complete, legal death certificate

F.Results

1.Natural death – disease or old age

2.Unnatural death – unnatural, unexpected, or unusual cases

G. Methods to determine time of death

1. Traditional indicators

a. Rigor mortis

b.Begins three hours after death in face and eyelid muscles

c.Takes twelve hours to affect entire body

d.Process reverses after 36 hours

2.Lividity (hypostasis)

a.Visible 30-60 minutes after death

b.Red cells settle and skin below turns red

c.In 6-10 hours, color becomes permanent

3.Body temperature

a.Falls at rate of one degree per hour

b.Obesity and warm environment slows cooling

4.None of the above are totally reliable and can be manipulated

Part III

Write a job description for a medical examiner. Use what you have learned to explain the what, how, and why they do what they do.