In this article we will review the gross and microscopic appearance of Blunt Force Traumatic Injuries and the mechanisms, which causes them. We will discuss abrasions, contusions, lacerations, fractures, compression and hemorrhage.
Cranial nerves (CN) are those nerves, which arise from the brainstem with the exception of CN I and II, the nuclei (site of origin) of which are located in the forebrain and thalamus respectively. The forebrain consists of the cerebrum, thalamus, hypothalamus and the limbic system. The CNs are not considered part of the central nervous system (CNS) but are part of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) with the exception of CN O, CN I (olfactory nerve) and CN II (optic nerve). This article is devoted to CNs O and I.
Now that we have reviewed the fundamentals of human anatomy, as well as various measurements and indices applied to skeletal remains we can apply this knowledge to the identification of skeletal remains.
This article is devoted to the utilization of the anthropologic landmarks of the skull in the determination of the various measurements and indices, which are then used as a foundation for identification. It also includes important anatomic landmarks of the upper and lower extremities, clavicle, scapula, sternum and pelvis, which are also utilized to determine the measurements and indices to aid in identification of skeletal remains.
There are several types of skull fractures, which include linear skull fractures, depressed skull fractures, comminuted and multiple skull fractures, expressed skull fractures, contracoup fractures, ping pong fractures (pond fractures), birth fractures, infant skull fractures, diastatic fractures, and growing skull fractures. In this article we will explore the embryological development of the skull, as well as, how these fractures arise and manifest themselves.
When skeletalized remains are found, whether complete or incomplete, their examination should proceed in a scientific stepwise fashion, the purpose of which is to address a number of key points: Are the remains human? What are the sex, race, stature, and the age at the time of death? Are there any distinguishing characteristics either of an anatomic anomaly or pathology. Is there evidence of a cause of death? In this first article we will first review the fundamentals of human skeletal anatomy.
Bleeding into the subarachnoid space is most commonly the result of trauma. It can be either as a thin-layered diffuse hemorrhage over the cerebral or cerebrellar hemispheres, assume a patchy distribution or present as a space occupying mass of blood referred to as a hematoma. In this article we will discuss the various causes of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage and their pathophysiology.
The process of postmortem decomposition can be divided into five stages: Fresh (autolysis), putrefaction, black putrefaction, butyric fermentation and dry decay. The first stage begins within minutes of death and last typically up to 36 to 72 hours before the beginning of putrefaction. The length of the first stage, as is true of the entire decomposition process, is primarily determined by environmental temperature. The first stage was discussed in the previous article entitled “Early Postmortem Decomposition.” In this article we will discuss putrefaction, black putrefaction, butyric fermentation and dry decay.
Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) affects approximately 30,000 individuals per year in the United States, with an annual incidence of 1 per 10,000. In most populations primary non-traumatic SAH accounts for 5 to 9% of all strokes. SAH as the result of aneurysms is about 10 to 11 per 100,000 populations in Western Countries, with somewhat higher frequencies in the United States and Finland and among the Asian countries, Japan. It is lower in New Zealand and the other Scandinavian countries.
In this article we will discuss the changes, which occur following death and how they relate to time of death. We will address changes to the body in the early postmortem period, which include rigor mortis, livor mortis, algor mortis, external appearance of the eyes, stomach contents, chemical changes within the vitreous humor, evidence of insect activity and scene investigation.
EARLY POSTMORTEM CHANGES
Forensic Medicine with Dr. Cox 