POSTMORTEM QUESTIONAIRS

POSTMORTEM REPORT- 1
• External findings
• Froth from the mouth and nostrils.
• Face congested
• Pin point pupil non reacting to light.
• Red tears stains on the inner canthus of the eyes
• Internal findings
• Lungs heavy congested and oedematous cut section shows
frothy fluid oozing out
• Stomach contents smelling of kerosene.
• All the organs congested and oedematous
 Questions
• What type of poison do you suspect from the above
findings.
• Mention the antidotes available for its treatment.
• What viscera will you collect at autopsy to send for
chemical examination.
• What are the preservatives that you will use to
preserve these viscerae.
• Name two other poisons that cause pin point pupils.
 POSTMORTEM REPORT-2

• Dead body of a young male aged 23 years

was killed during an encounter with the
police due to gun fire. Body showed the
following findings:
External
• Wound no 1
findings
• A circular wound measuring 1 cm in diameter on
the forehead.
• Abrasion collar, contusion collar and grease
collar seen around the wound
• The margins are inverted
• Wound no 2
• A cruciate shaped wound over the occipital region
measuring 5 cms in diameter.
• Margins everted
• Fractured bone and brain matter seen coming
out.
• Blood stains were seen more around wound no 2.
 Internal Findings
• Brain shows a lacerated wound with contused
margins through the lateral ventricle pearcing
the frontal temporal and parietal lobes on the
right side.
• The skull below the wound no 1 shows
bevelling on the inner table.
• The tissues near the wound no 1 shows pinkish
discolouration.
 Questions
• What was the type of gun used in this case?
• What is the distance from which it was fired?
• Which of these wounds is the entry wound?
Justify with reasons.
• What was the likely cause of death?
• What is the punishment for this homicide?
 POSTMORTEM REPORT-3

• A dead body was recovered from a hotel room

by the police. It was alleged that he has
committed suicide by consuming some
poisonous material.
• At post mortem following findings were
observed:
• External findings
• Face congested with eyes open.
• Petichial haemorrhage over the cheeks and eye
lids
• Rigormortis present only over the lower extremity.
• Greenish discolouration over the right iliac region.
• Patches of pink postmortem lividity present on the
back and fixed.
• Internal features
• Tardieus spots over the pleura and the
pericardium.
• All the organs are congested.
• Blood shows pinkish discolouration.
• Bitter almond smell is perceived from the stomach
contents.
 Questions
• What is the probable poison which caused the
death?
• What is the approximate time since death?
Give reasons.
• What are the antidotes for this poisoning?
• Mention the medicolegal importance of this
poison.
• Name two poisons that have characteristic
smell.
 POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION -4

• A Pedestrian was walking along the road when

he was hit by a car due to which he sustained
injuries and succumbed to it in the hospital.
• The post mortem finding were as follows.
• External features

• Lacerated wound 4x3 inches on the back of

the right lower leg 8 inches above the heel
with fracture of the tibia and fibula.
• Lacerated wound 5x4 inches on the back of
the left lower leg 10 inches above the heal
with fracture of the tibia and fibula.
• Imprint abrasion of the radiator grill over
back of the right thigh.
• Fracture of the pelvis on the right side.
• Multiple abrasions over the face knee and
over the fore arm.
• Car tread marks seen over the back of
chest.
• On enquiry the distance of the bumper
from the ground was found to be 12
 Questions
• Mention the primary impact injuries from the findings.
• Mention the secondary injuries and secondary impact
injuries from the findings given.
• Did the person apply brakes? If yes give reasons if no
give reasons.
• Mention two things you should ascertain at autopsy
which may decrease the liability on the part of the
driver.
• How will you opine as to the cause of death?
 POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION-5
• A dead body of a male aged 35 years was recovered
from the sea at Panambur sea beach. On autopsy the
body showed the following findings
• External findings
• Fine lathery persistent froth from the mouth and
nostrils
• Cloths wet soaked in water.
• Body covered with sand particles
• weeds held tightly clenched in both hands.
• Washer woman hands and feet seen.
 Internal findings

• Lungs congested, oedematous, boggy with rib

impressions.
• Bone marrow shows diatoms similar to that
found in the water.
• Water in the stomach with sand.
 Questions:
• Pick up two external findings from the above which
suggests antemortem drowning.
• Two internal findings which suggests antemortem
drowning.
• By which test do you differentiate between salt and
fresh water drowning.
• What is the cause of death in fresh water drowning.
• Comment where will you find the post mortem lividity
in this case.
POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION-6

• The dead body of a young lady was found after

one day hanging from the fan inside a room in
her residence. At autopsy the following finding
were seen:
 External findings
• Ligature mark around the neck, above the thyroid cartilage
moving upwards and back wards and disappearing into the
hairline at the back.
• Dribbling of saliva from the angle of the mouth on the right
side and stains found on the clothing.
• Face congested
• There is miosis and contraction of eyelids of the right eye.
• Petechial haemorrhage seen over the cheeks and eye lids.
• Cyanosis of the nails seen.
• No other injury is seen over the body.
 Internal Findings

• Pale ligature mark in the subcutaneous tissue

just below the external ligature mark.
• Linear tears seen over the intima of the
carotids with blood clots.
• Fracture of the posterior horn of the thyroid
cartilage on the left side.
 Questions:
• Select two findings from the external findings
mentioned to say it was antemortem hanging.
• Which side was the knot present? Justify.
• Mention the areas in which the post mortem lividity
will develop in this case.
• Do you think it can be a ligature strangulation? Justify.
• What is the significance of the tears in the intima of
the carotid with blood clots.
POSTMORTEM EXAMINATION-7

• The dead body of a female aged 25 years was

recovered from a burnt house and was treated
in the hospital for one day following which she
died. On autopsy the body showed the
following features
 External examination

• The following areas showed superficial to deep

burns on the body:
– Whole of face
– Whole of back
– Both the limbs
• Scalp hairs showed singing of hairs.
• Tight undergarment portions were spared.
 Internal findings

• 1. Cherry red colour of the blood.

• 2. All the organs congested.
• 3. Pleural cavity filled with blood stained
serum.
• 4. Soot particles were seen in the trachea and
bronchus.
 Questions
• Calculate the percentage of burns sustained by
this person.
• What are the finding which suggests positively
that it is a case of antemortem burn.
• Comment on the colour of the blood.
• Name two probable cause of death in this case.
• Mention two other cause of death due to burns.
POST MORTEM EXAMINATION-8
• A dead body was recovered from the forest area at
Kumble. On autopsy examination the body revealed
the following:
• External Features
• Body discoloured green and bloated.
• Marbelling seen over the groin and axilla.
• Abdomen burst and maggots seen inside and from the
ear and nostrils.
• External genitalia swollen
• Uterus protruded and a unidentifiable mass seen
hanging near the cervix.
 Internal Findings

• Abdominal contents putrefied into a black

unidentifiable mass.
• fracture of the hyoid at the greater cornue.
• fracture of the thyroid cartilage in it the
midline anteriorly.
 Questions
• What is the time since the death? Justify your answer.
• comment on the mass present at the mouth of the
cervix.
• Was it a homicide or a suicide? What was the probable
cause of death.
• What are the viscerae you will collect for chemical
examination.
• What is the significance of maggots present and how
do you preserve them?
 Exercise No 9

External Examination:

• Vertical Laceration 7cms x 2 cms x bone deep on the left side

of forehead just above the left eye brow with the underlying
bones fractured.
• Laceration 5cms x 2 cms x bone deep on the right side of the
forehead above the right eye brow.
• Fracture of the nasal bone.
Internal Findings
Skull fractured into multiple pieces including the base.
Brain showed subdural, diffused subarachnoid, intraventricular and
pontine haemorrhages. On cut section, petechial hemorrhages seen over
the gray matter.
Lungs congested and oedematous, cut section exudes blood stained
frothy fluid,
Kidney and spleen pale on cut section.
 PM 9

• Opine as to the cause of Death from the findings given.

• How will you differentiate between a subdural and
subarachnoid haemorrhage at autopsy?
• What is postmortem caloricity? Which injury will cause
postmortem caloricity?
• Name two more conditions where postmortem caloricity is
seen?
• What incision would you prefer to dissect the body? Elaborate
with diagram.