EFFECTS OF THE

HEAT TO HUMAN
BODY
SPECIFIC HEAT
• Is a volume of required calories to raise the temperature of one gram of
a particular substance with temperature of one degree centigrade.

SENSIBLE HEAT
• A type of heat which absorbed by the body that produce a rise
temperature
 WHAT IS HEAT
CRAMPS
• It is a painful contraction or tightening of
the skeletal muscle due to dehydration and
loss of sodium chloride due to excessive
sweating
WHAT IS
EXHAUSTION ( HEAT
COLLAPSE)
• It is a physiologic breakdown following
exposure to heat triggered by exertion and
warm clothing that characterized by
peripheral or outer vasomotor ( relating to
nerve and muscle that cause blood vessel
to tighten or expand)
 WHAT IS HEAT
STROKE
• Is a breaking down of sweating mechanism
usually common to a workers who are
exposed to a warm environment or having a
direct exposure to extreme heat of sun ray
sand may displayed by increase of the body
temperature mental injuries to central
nervous system, congestion and
hemorrhages in various organ
WHAT IS SCALD
• A type of skin injury due to strong contact
with a hot object or boiling liquid that is
characterized by redness, pain, and
blistering formation. The injury will
depend upon the temperature of the liquid
duration of contact, underlying clothing
and the tissues involved
 BURNED INJURY
• The possibility of a person dying due to burned injury will
depend on the severity of burns depends directly on the
intensity of the fire and the duration of exposure. Chemical
fires may reach temperatures of several thousand degrees
house fires seldom exceed 1200 F (649 C), at this
temperature, it is the unlikely adult body will burn completely.
Even though the external body is charred and unrecognizable,
internal organs are usually intact and liquid blood for DNA,
toxicology, and carbon monoxide testing is present, teeth will
usually be in excellent condition for identification purposes
 BURNS
• is an injury resulting from an application
of physical heat in any form to the
bodyand is characterized by redness, heat
coagulation of tissues to actual burning
CLASSIFICATION OF
BURNS
FIRST DEGREE
• A type of burn that involves the superficial
layer of the skin characterized by redness
and pain. If only the surface of the skin,
the top layer, was burned, we call that a
first degree
 SECOND DEGREE
BURN
• A skin burn that involves the superficial
layer of the tissues and skin and nerve
endings is characterized by blister
formation. The effect is serious because it
is painful it will irritate the nerve endings
Blisters are the hallmark of second-degree
burns. In this case, the burn is also
considered severe because of its location
(hand) and its potential to cause a loss of
function
THIRD DEGREE BURN
• A type of skin injury involving the nerves,
muscles and bones which is usually met in
victims of conflagration. Third degree burn
is most severe because the victim may
possibly die due to loss of fluid and
electrolytes or may turn into a massive
infection

• Third-degree burns extend all the way

through the dermis and into the
subcutaneous tissue beneath
 AUTOPSY
• It is the process by which the pathologist
or the medico-legal officer conducts an
examination on the cadaver to determine
the exact cause of death. The autopsy
should be performed at once when there is
the slightest reason to suspect the
probability of homicide
 DEATH INVESTIGATION
• AUTOPSY DISTINGUISHED FROM POST-MORTEM
EXAMINATION
• Post Mortem examination is the cursory examination of the dead body by
the medico-legal officer at the crime scene. An autopsy is more detailed

• AUTOPSY OR NECROPSY REPORT

• It is the medical document or report stating the cause of death of the victim.

• To determine the cause and manner of death the forensic pathologist will usually conduct an autopsy.
The purpose of an autopsy is to observe and make a permanent legal record as soon as possible of the
gross and minute anatomical peculiarities of a recently discovered dead body. Autopsies are typically
done at a medical investigators office, local hospital, or at the country morgue, although some are
done in private offices or in funeral parlors.
 NECROPSY VERSUS
AUTOPSY
• The two terms autopsy and necropsy refer to the process of examining a body after
death. An autopsy is the examination of a corpse in order to establish the exact cause
of death. Necropsy is the surgical dissection and examination of a carcass for the
purpose of identifying the cause of death of the particular animal. Thus, the key
difference between autopsy and necropsy is that autopsy is performed on humans
whereas necropsy is performed on animals.

• Traditionally, the term “necropsy” has been used to refer to a post -mortem
examination on an animal species, while “autopsy” has been reserved exclusively for
human patients.
CAUSE OF DEATH VS.
MANNER OF DEATH
• The cause of death is the specific injury or
disease that leads to death. While the
manner of death is the determination of
how the injury or disease leads to death.
There are five manners of death (natural,
accident, suicide, homicide, and
undetermined)
 FOUR CATEGORIES OF
DEATH
NATURAL CAUSES:
• Quite simply when the body ceases to
function of its own accord or if there are
mitigating medical factors such as terminal
illness, heart disease or the like, which
would bring about death - this is generally
referred to as death by natural causes.
HOMICIDE
• The taking of one human life by another
human being by means of pre-meditated
murder. The term pre-meditated means to
have purposely planned and executed the
murder of another human being in cold
blood whilst trying to elude capture by
theauthorities.
ACCIDENTAL DEATH:
• As the term would suggest the death of an individual by
means other than naturaldeath, murder or suicide.
Accidental death can sometimes be manslaughter -
murder but committed out of an involuntary act of
violence towards another. Likewise accidental death
can also be categorized as death by misadventure. This
means that the victim has died by accident either whilst
doing something they should not have been doing or by
taking risks that would put them in mortal danger. A lot
of extreme sports participants have died, and their
deaths have been classified as death by misadventure
because of the extreme nature of their pastimes.
SUICIDE
• The deliberate taking of one's own life due
to extreme emotional distress often
brought about by severe depression.
Suicide is neither accidental nor is it
classified asdeath by misadventure simply
because the individual has set about on a
course of action that would end with their
own inevitable death. Normally this would
occur by means of drug overdose, the
cutting of one's wrists to induce
uncontrollable bleeding, or indeed
stepping out in front of a moving vehicle.
 DEATH SCENE
INVESTIGATION
• For the pathologist and criminal investigator to perform a thorough
investigation, the death scene must be well documented. By understanding
the role of the pathologist and the natural changes that occur in the body
after death, the criminal investigator can gather information that is useful to
everyone involved in the investigation.

POSTMORTEM CHANGES IN THE BODY

• POSTMORTEM - is in reference to events or changes that occur after
death.
• ANTIMORTEM - is in reference to events or changes that occur before
death.
 ALGOR MORTIS
(BODY COOLING)
• Algor mortis (Latin: algor—coldness; mortis—of death), the
second stage ofdeath, is the change in body temperature post
mortem, until the ambient temperature is matched. After death
the metabolic process inside the body ceases. No more heat is
produced but the body loses slowly its temperature by
evaporation or by conduction (transmission )to the surrounding
atmosphere.
• The rate of cooling of the body is not uniform. It is rapid during the first
two hours after death and as the temperature of the body gradually
approaches the temperature of the surroundings, the rate becomes slower
At the time of death, a condition called "primary flaccidity (Softness)"
occurs. Following this, the muscles stiffen in rigor mortis. All muscles in
the body are affected. Starting between two and six hours following death,
rigor mortis begins with the eyelids, neck, and jaw. The initial “phase”
following a death is what is known as primary flaccidity. This occurs
directly after a person dies and becomes fully present within an hour.
ALGOR MORTIS VS.
ALVOR MORTIS
• Algor mortis is the process by which the body cools after death. Cooling
takes place only if the ambient temperature is cooler than the body
temperature at the time of death. While Livor mortis on the later aspects of
the body is caused by settling of the blood because of gravity when the
body is in a supine( in active) position

LIVOR MORTIS
• Livor Mortis or hypostasis is a purplish discoloration of the body and organ surfaces.
It results when blood settles to the lower parts of the body. It becomes visible in the
skin between half hour and two hours after death. Pallor Mortis, Pallor mortis (Latin:
pallor "paleness", mortis "of death"), the first stage of death, is an after-death paleness
that occurs in those with light/white skin
• Livor Mortis - Livor mortis, also known as hypostasis,
is the discoloration of the skin due to the pooling of
blood in the dependent parts of the body following
death. Gravity will make the blood settle and the areas
where it settles turns to a dark blue or purple color,
which is termed 'lividity.

• Early on, the blood remains in the vessels, so the livor

can be blanched by applying pressure to the affected
part. During this blanchable stage, if the body is moved
and the body position is changed after the livor mortis
becomes visible, the livor mortis can migrate away
from those dependent areas to the new dependent areas.

• Livor mortis can be useful for determining if the body

was moved after death.Because the livor settles to the
lower extremities of the body, if livor mortis is found
onthe upper extremities of the body, it had to be moved.
RIGOR MORTIS
• Rigor mortis (Latin: rigor "stiffness", mortis "of death"), or postmortem
rigidity, is the third stage of death. It is one of the recognizable signs of
death, characterized by stiffening of the limbs of the corpse caused by
chemical changes in the muscles postmortem.

• Rigor Mortis is a condition in which the muscles of the body become

hardened asa result of chemical changes within the muscle fibers. The
process is due to the appearance of lactic acid and other by-products of
metabolism. As the acid products accumulate in the muscle fibers, the
protoplasm, which is in a liquid state in life, begins to gel, making the
muscle rigid.
 RIGOR MORTIS
• Rigor Mortis is a condition in which the muscles of the body become
hardened because of chemical changes within the muscle fibers. The
process is due to the appearance of lactic acid and other by-products of
metabolism. As the acid products accumulate in the muscle fibers, the
protoplasm ( living substance), which is in a liquid state in life, begins to
gel, making the muscle rigid .The small muscles are affected first (chin
muscles). Rigor mortis is detected in2 to 4 hours, complete in 6 to 12
hours, remains for 12 to 18 hours, begins to leave in 24 to 36 hours, and
completely gone in 40 to 60 hours. However, there are documented cases
where it has been gone in 9 to 23 hours, and others where it is stillpresent
after 64 hours.

• The onset (start) and departure of rigor mortis is greatly affected by

previously noted environmental conditions. Because of the great
variability of the onset of the rigor mortis, it is not a good indicator for
determining the time of death. An outward visual indication of the rigor
mortis is the presence of “goose bumps” or “goose flesh” on the skin.
Rigor mortis is a good indicator of whether or not the body was moved
after the onset of rigor mortis.
 DESICCATION

• occurs most prominently on the mucous

membranes, which during life are kept moist (by
blinking, lip licking, etc) and are no longer
protected from drying. The membrane may look
“burned”, and the conjunctiva (cloudy)may
actually be black.
DECOMPOSITION
• Decomposition also referred to as putrefaction, is the
sequence of physiochemical events that begins with death
and ends with the dissolution of the nondurable parts of
the body. It begins with a greenish discoloration of the
skin and mucous membranes. The epidermis becomes
detached from the membrane and slips off the body.
Autolysis refers to the action of digestive enzymes or
ferments that break down the complex protein and
carbohydrate molecules in the body to simpler
compounds. During life, these digestive enzymes only act
on food in the stomach, but after death will breakdown
surrounding tissue. The combined effects of putrefaction
and autolysis cause the soft tissues of the body to
decompose and break down into a liquid state.
 PURGE
• As the body begins to transform into a liquid state and gases build
within the body, the gases force the fluid from the body. This fluid
ranges from dark red and dark brown to black and has a very
unpleasant odor. The gases will force the putrefied liquid from the
body through the mouth, nose, vagina, and anus .This liquid is
referred to as purge

MUMMIFICATION
• occurs when the body dries out faster than
decomposition take splace usually in hot, dry
environments.
PATHOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION OF THE CAUSES
OF DEATH
• An analysis of all deaths from natural causes will ultimately lead to
the failure of the heart, lungs, and brain, so that death due to
pathological abrasions may be classified into
a. death from syncope- ( ASPHYXIA,(Fall unconscious) Syncope is a
temporary loss of consciousness usually related to insufficient blood
flow to the brain. It's also called fainting or "passing out." It most often
occurs when blood pressure is too low(hypotension) and the heart doesn't
pump enough oxygen to the brain.

b. death from asphyxia

c. death from coma
 CAUSES OF DEATH
FROM SYNCOPE:
• Coronary diseases, such as embolisms blocks an
artery caused by blood clots or other substances,
such as fat globules, infected tissue, or cancer cells.
or thrombolysis.

• Thrombolysis - therapy, is a treatment to dissolve

dangerous clots in blood vessels, improve blood
flow, and prevent damage to tissues and organs.
Rupture of the heart through softened infarct
• Myocardial - Commonly known as a heart
attack, occurs when blood flow decreases
or stops to a part of the heart, causing
damage to the heart muscle. The most
common symptom is chest pain or
discomfort which may travel into the
shoulder, arm, back, neck,

• Valvular disease - is characterized by

damage to or a defect in one of the four
heart valves: the mitral, aortic, tricuspid, or
pulmonary. The mitral and tricuspid valves
control the flow of blood between the atria
and the ventricles (the upper and lower
chambers of the heart).
 OTHER SPECIAL TYPES OF DEATH
• EUTHANASIA - Euthanasia or “mercy killing is the deliberate and painless
acceleration of death of a person usually suffering from an incurable and
distressing disease
• Active euthanasia- intentional or deliberate application of the means to
shorten the life of a person. It may be done with or without the consent or
knowledge of the person.
• Passive euthanasia - there is the absence of the application of the means to
accelerate death but the natural course of the disease is allowed to have its
way to extinguish the life of a person.
• Passive euthanasia is when death is brought about by an omission - i.e. when
someone lets the person die. This can be by withdrawing or withholding
treatment: Withdrawing treatment: for example, switching off a machine that is
keeping a person alive, so that they die of their disease.
• DYSTHANASIA- In medicine, dysthanasia means "bad death" and is
considered a common fault of modern medicine. Dysthanasia occurs when a
person who is dying has their biological life extended through technological
means without regard to the person'squality of life.

DEATH BY ASPHYXIA
• Asphyxia or asphyxiation - is a condition of the deficient supply of oxygen to
the bodythat arises from abnormal breathing. An example of asphyxia is
choking. Asphyxia causes generalized hypoxia, which affects primarily the
tissues and organs.
• Strangulation - Strangulation is a form of asphyxiation from compression of
the neck, hard blows to the neck may also cause strangulation. Manual
strangulation is homicide there may be bruising or marks on neck –
sometimes they will only show during autopsythe hyoid bone may be
fractured.
• Death By Choking - Choking is a blockage of the
upper airway by food or other objects, which
prevents a person from breathing effectively.

• Hyoid - is a U-shaped bone in the neck which

supports the tongue. A ligature is a cord or wire
used for tying strangulation by ligature may be
homicide or suicide close inspection of the neck
may show evidence of a ligature

• Death by Hanging - Hanging is asphyxiation by

strangulation using rope, cord or similar material
to work against the weight of the body. A person
does not have to be fully suspended to hang
• Anoxic Death - This is associated with the failure of the arterial blood to
become normally saturated with oxygen. Anoxia happens when your body or
brain completely loses its oxygen supply. Anoxia is usually a result of
hypoxia. This means that a part of your body doesn't have enough oxygen.
When your body is harmed by a lack of oxygen, it's called a hypoxic-anoxic
injury. low oxygen at high altitudes

• Anemic Anoxic Death -This is due to a decreased capacity of the blood to

carry oxygen
• Drowning - is death as caused by suffocation when a liquid causes an
interruption of the body's absorption of oxygen from the air leading to
asphyxia. Secondary drowning is death due to chemical or biological
changes in the lungs after a near-drowning incident
• Death by Strangulation/ Hanging - Strangling is compression of the neck
that may lead to unconsciousness or death by causing an increasingly
hypoxic state in the brain. Fatal strangling typically occurs in cases of
violence, and accidents, and as the auxiliary lethal mechanism in
hangings in the event, the neck does not break

• Death from coma: Coma is the state of unconsciousness with

insensibility of the pupil and conjunctive, and inability to swallow,
resulting from the arrest of the functions of the brain.
THANK YOU
VERY MUCH!