Doctors
General Public
Medical Students
Main Page

               

Death: A Rapid Review of Definitions



By Waseem Shehzad (PMC)
waseem_dr@hotmail.com

FORENSIC THENATOLOGY
Medicolegal study of death OR 
Scientific study of phenomena and practices relating to death.

TRIPOD OF LIFE
Life depends upon the integration of 3 vital systems namely respiration ,circulation and innervation. Also called TRIPOD OF LIFE. The persistent stoppage of any of vital system eventually leads to irreversible loss of function of the others precipitating the death.

MODE OF DEATH
Stoppage or failure of vital system.
3 modes off death
Asphyxia--------stoppage of function of lungs
Syncope--------================heart
Coma------------===============brain

CAUSE OF DEATH
Disease , physical injury or intoxication which proves fatal

MECHANISM OF DEATH
Train of changes in body physiology and biochemistry which is incompatible wth life (like asystole , ventricular fibrillation and hemorrhagic shock ,severe acidosis,alkalosis,sepsis .,toxemia,.)

MANNER OF DEATH
Way ,function or circumstances of death 
· Natural when due to disease
· Unnatural when due to causes other than disease as trauma and intoxication
· Accident
· Homicide
· Suicide
The term come is now replaced by BRAIN DEATH

ASPHYXIA
Interference wth the process of oxygenation in the lungs

Types of asphyxia
MECHANICAL ASPHYXIA
Obstruction of air passages in an unnatural way either from with in or by exerting pressure from outside

PATHOLOGICAL ASPHYXIA
Transfer of oxygen to the lungs is prevented duer to blockade caused by a disesase of respiratory tract.

TOXIC ASPHYXIA
Met in industrial hazards. 
Uptake of O2 is prevented in the lungs due to presence of some irrespirable gases poisonous like CO 

ENVIRONMENTAL ASPHYXIA
Insufficiency of oxygen in the inspired air 
As in vitiated atmosphere of deep well and closed spaces.

IATROGENIC ASPHYXIA
Related to anesthesia and surgery.

SUSPENDED ANIMATION OR APPARENT DEATH
It occurs when vital processes of the body arev depressed to the minimum compatible wth life. But not perceptible wth the life.
The body for all intents and purposes looke and behaves like a dead body.some recover from this state and others die.This also occur in HIBERNATION ,during electrocution and drowning ,hypothermia ,acute intoxication. Wth strong hypnotic.

SOMATIC ,CLINICAL OR SYSTEMIC DEATH.
It is due to complete and irreversible loss of vital functions of brain fllowed by heart and lungs.

MOLECULAR DEATH
It is due to death of tissues and cells. About 3 to 4 hours after somatic death.

COMA
Death from failure of functions of brain and irreversible damage to its vital centers.

SYNCOPE
Death from failure of func of heart causing hypoperfusion and hypoxia of brain.

SUDDEN DEATH
Death which is not followed by morbid symptoms.

CAUSES OF SUDDEN DEATH
· CVS 
· CNS
· RESPIRATORY
· ABDOMINAL 
· ENDOCRINAL
· IATROGENIC 
· SPECIAL CAUSES IN CHILDREN
· INDETERMINATE
SIGNS OF DEATH

1. IMMEDIATE SIGNS 
· these are of somatic death
· insensibility and loss of EEGrhythm
· ---------------------------ECG -------- AND Cessation of circulation
· cessation of respiration

2. EARLY SIGNS
· These are signs of molecular death
· These occur with in 12 to 24 hrs after death
· Cooling of body
· Changes in eye
· ------------skin
· PML
· Changes in muscles

3. LATE SIGNS
· Putrifaction
· Adipocere formation
· Mummification

TACHES NOIRES
these are areas of bownish black discoloration on the exposed sclera between eyelids due to formastion of cellular debris and 
dust settling there of.

CATTLE TRUCKING
The blood stream in in retinal vessels rapidly becomes dotted ist and then segmented after death .

POSTMORTEM LIVIDITY
Discoloration of skin and organs aftr death due to accumulation of fluid blood in the toneless capillaries and small veins of the dependent parts of body.

CADAVERIC SPASM
There is stiffening of muscles after death immediately without being preceded by stage of primary relaxation. Also called instantaneous rigor.

PUTREFACTION OR DECOMPOSITION 
It is last stage in the resolution of body from the organic to inorgainic state caused by 2 processes 
· Autolysis
· Bacterial action