Corpse changes. Post-mortem changes Other post-mortem changes

44. Early cadaveric changes. Mechanisms of occurrence. Forensic significance

Cooling of the body, cadaveric spots, rigor mortis, drying of tissues belong to early cadaveric phenomena.

When a corpse is cooled, the body temperature usually remains at the same level during the first tens of minutes after death. Sometimes, under the influence of microbes, it can rise to more than 40 °C.

The cooling of the corpse is caused by the cessation of metabolism and heat production. After 45–60 minutes, body temperature decreases uniformly by 1 °C per hour. Temperature influences the rate of postmortem temperature drop environment, location of the corpse, presence of clothing, wind force, weight and volume of the body, cause of death, etc.

Cadaveric spots. After cessation of blood circulation, blood and other body fluids move in accordance with physical laws: under the influence of gravity, they gradually descend to the underlying sections.

Blood seeps outside the vessels and accumulates in the tissues, giving them skin dirty purple color with a predominance of various shades, depending on many reasons, including the cause of death.

In case of poisoning carbon monoxide cadaveric spots have a bright red color (blood hemoglobin turns into carboxyhemoglobin); in case of poisoning with cyanide compounds, they have a peculiar cherry color.

In the cold, the color of cadaveric spots is bright pink (due to the oxidation of hemoglobin by air oxygen penetrating through microcracks in the skin that form when body fluids freeze).

When hanging, if the corpse has not been removed from the noose for a long time, the cadaveric spots are predominantly located on the forearms, legs, and feet.

Stages of formation of cadaveric spots:

1) the stage of hypostasis continues for 12 hours after death. The liquid part of the blood is in the vessels, and when pressure is applied to the spots, the blood is squeezed out of the vessels, and after the pressure stops, it quickly fills them again;

2) the stage of stasis (diffusion) is observed after 12 hours from the moment of death and lasts up to 24 hours. Cadaveric spots turn pale, but do not disappear when pressed;

3) the imbibition stage develops on the second day after death. Cadaveric spots are well fixed, do not move, and do not turn pale when pressed, since soft fabrics soaked in blood.

Forensic significance of cadaveric spots:

1) are the earliest sign of death;

2) reflect the position of the body and its possible changes after death - approximately allow one to determine the time of death;

3) the degree of severity reflects the speed of death;

4) diagnostic sign the color of cadaveric spots serves in some poisonings or it indicates the conditions in which the corpse was located;

5) make it possible to judge the nature of the objects on which the corpse was located.

Chapter 42. Dying and DeathChapter 44. Inspection of the corpse at the scene of discovery

Chapter 43. Cadaveric phenomena

43.1. Early cadaveric phenomena

After death occurs, certain changes occur in the corpse. Their development and manifestation depend on many factors (cause of death, air temperature, etc.). Reliable signs of death are divided into early(appearing soon after death) and late(observed some time after death).

Early cadaveric phenomena are of great forensic medical importance, since they allow solving a number of important problems for the investigation: determining the time of death, the initial position of the corpse, suggesting poisoning by certain toxic substances etc. Early cadaveric changes include: cooling of the corpse, formation of cadaveric spots and rigor mortis, partial drying of the corpse, cadaveric autolysis.

Cooling the corpse. Due to the cessation of metabolic processes in the body, the temperature of the corpse gradually decreases to the ambient temperature (air, water, etc.). The degree of cooling depends on a number of factors: ambient temperature (the lower it is, the goes faster cooling, and vice versa), the nature of the clothing on the corpse (the warmer it is, the slower the cooling occurs), fatness (in obese people, cooling occurs more slowly than in emaciated people), the cause of death, etc. Parts of the body not covered by clothing cool faster than those covered . The influence of all these factors on the cooling rate is taken into account approximately.

The literature contains data on the time required to cool the corpse of an adult to ambient temperature: at a temperature of +20C - approximately 30 hours, at +10C - 40 hours, at +5C - 50 hours. At low temperatures(below -4C) cooling turns into freezing. It is better to measure the temperature of a corpse in the rectum. It is generally accepted that, on average, the temperature in the rectum decreases at room temperature (+16-17C) by about one degree per hour and, therefore, by the end of the day it is compared with the ambient temperature. The temperature of the corpse should be measured after a strictly defined time - at the beginning and at the end of the inspection of the crime scene, and then after the corpse arrives at the morgue (taking into account the ambient temperature). It is better to measure the temperature every two hours.

In the absence of a thermometer, the temperature of a corpse can be judged approximately by touching closed parts of the body (open parts of the body cool faster and do not reflect the temperature of the entire corpse). It is better to do this by feeling the armpits of the corpse with the palm of your hand. The degree of cooling of a corpse is one of reliable signs death (body temperature below +25C usually indicates death).

Cadaveric spots. They arise due to post-mortem redistribution of blood in the corpse. After cardiac arrest, the movement of blood through the vessels stops, and due to its gravity, it begins to gradually descend into the relatively lower located parts of the corpse, overflowing and expanding the capillaries and small venous vessels. The latter are visible through the skin in the form of bluish-purple spots, which are called cadaveric spots. The higher located parts of the body do not have cadaveric spots. They appear approximately two hours (sometimes 20-30 minutes) after death. There are several stages in their development.

Stage of hypostasis (leakage) — This is the initial period of formation of cadaveric spots. It reaches full development 5-6 hours after death and lasts 6-12 hours. During this period, blood moves into the vessels of the underlying parts of the corpse, and it begins to shine through the skin in the form of blue-purple spots. In the stage of hypostasis, cadaveric spots completely disappear when pressed (blood is squeezed out of the vessels), and a few seconds after the pressure stops, the color of cadaveric spots is restored again. If the position of the corpse is changed at this stage, the cadaveric spots will completely move in accordance with the new position of the body. When the cadaveric spots are cut, dilated venous vessels are visible, from which liquid dark red blood flows.

Diffusion (percolation) stage — the second stage of the formation of cadaveric spots. It lasts from approximately 8 to 24-36 hours after death. During this period, part of the blood (plasma), colored red by the hemoglobin of disintegrated red blood cells, begins to leak through the vascular wall and permeate the surrounding tissues. Now cadaveric spots do not completely disappear when pressed, but only turn pale and more slowly restore their color after the pressure stops. When the position of the body changes, the spots can partially move (disappear on the previous ones and appear on new areas of the body - the underlying ones), but they are partially preserved in the place of their early formation (the color of such preserved cadaveric spots will be somewhat paler). When the skin is incised in the area of the cadaveric spot, a reddish bloody liquid drains from the surface of the cut; the vessels contain a small amount of thick blood, which is released from the cut slowly in drops.

Stage of imbibition — the third stage of the formation of cadaveric spots. It is characterized by persistent impregnation (staining) of tissues with blood plasma. At this stage, cadaveric spots do not change color or disappear when pressed, and do not move when the position of the corpse changes. When the area of the spot is cut, blood does not flow out of the cut vessels; a pinkish liquid flows from the cut surface.

When the corpse is positioned on the back, cadaveric spots are located on the posterior and posterolateral surfaces of the body, on the stomach - on the anterior surface of the body, when vertical position corpse (hanging) - on the limbs and lower abdomen. Knowledge of this data allows the investigator and expert to determine the position of the corpse after death, as well as whether the corpse was moved or not. So, if the corpse lies on its back, and the cadaveric spots are located on the front surface of the body, it means that the position of the corpse changed a day or more after death. If cadaveric spots, when the corpse is positioned on the back, are located both on the posterolateral surface of the body and the anterior one, and on the latter they are pale, this will also indicate a change in the position of the corpse, but more early dates after death (after 14-24 hours). Therefore, when examining a corpse at the scene of an incident, it is necessary to compare the location of cadaveric spots with the position of the corpse (whether they are located in the underlying parts of the body of the corpse).

Example.

On May 20, 1997, the corpse of a man with signs of violent death was discovered in the forest area of Sokolniki Park. An investigative team with the participation of a forensic expert examined the scene of the incident and the corpse. When the examination began, the corpse was lying on its back. When examining the corpse, damage was found in the form of hematomas and abrasions in the head area, left side cervical spine, right collarbone, right forearm, as well as groin area. A clearly defined strangulation groove 7-10 mm wide and 4-6 mm deep was found on the neck of the corpse. Cadaveric spots are located on the front and anterolateral surfaces of the body, which indicated that the process of their occurrence occurred in a different position of the body. The discrepancy between the location of the cadaveric spots and the position of the corpse, the presence of signs of violent death in the absence of signs of struggle on it allowed the investigator, as one of the workers, to choose the version that the murder of the man was committed in another place, after which his corpse was taken to the forest in order to hide the traces crimes. As a result of the investigation, P. and B. were convicted of the murder of citizen K., whose corpse was discovered on May 25, 1997, on May 18, 1997 in the basement of a residential building located on the street. Malinkovskaya, they, for selfish reasons, beat up citizen K., and then B. strangled K. with a cord. On the night of May 19-20, 1997, P. and B. in B.’s car took K.’s corpse to the Sokolniki forest park. .

Against the background of cadaveric spots, it is sometimes possible to distinguish prints of clothing and objects that were under the corpse in the form of lighter areas of skin (places pressed by the weight of the body to various objects look paler on the corpse due to the squeezing of blood from them).

When examining a corpse at the scene and in the morgue, attention is paid to the presence and severity of cadaveric spots, their color and the area they occupy (prevalence), disappearance or change in color when pressed. In young healthy people, cadaveric spots are usually well defined, blue-purple in color, located almost over the entire back and partially on the lateral surfaces of the body. In cases of mechanical asphyxia and other types of rapid death, when the blood remains liquid, the cadaveric spots are abundant, diffuse, and blue-purple in color. With large blood loss, as well as in elderly or exhausted people, cadaveric spots usually develop slowly and are weakly expressed, limited in surface area.

In some poisonings, cadaveric spots have an unusual color: pinkish-red (carbon monoxide), cherry (hydrocyanic acid and its salts), grayish-brown (Berthollet salt, nitrites). The color of cadaveric spots also depends on changes in blood hemoglobin. In some cases, it may change when the environment surrounding the corpse changes. For example, when removing the corpse of a drowned person on the shore, the blue-purple cadaveric spots on his body due to the penetration of air oxygen through the loosened skin can change color to pink-red.

When examining a corpse, sometimes you may not notice bruises located in the area of cadaveric spots or on the border with them. In such cases, cross-shaped incisions are made in suspicious areas: if there is a bruise, limited hemorrhage is visible. In places covered with clothing (tight collar, scarf, etc.), cadaveric spots may not form, and such areas appear as light stripes against the background of bluish cadaveric spots. They can be mistakenly mistaken for a strangulation groove formed when the neck is compressed with a loop.

Rigor mortis. After death occurs in the muscles of the corpse biological processes, leading first to relaxation, and then (3-4 hours after death) to their contraction, hardening and rigor. In this state, the muscles of the corpse prevent passive movements in the joints, therefore, physical force must be used to straighten the limbs that are in a state of severe rigor mortis. Full development of rigor mortis in all muscle groups is achieved on average by the end of the day. After 1.5-3 days, rigor disappears (resolves), which is expressed in muscle relaxation.

A certain sequence can be traced in the development of rigor mortis; it follows a descending type - first, the masticatory muscles of the face undergo rigor, then neck muscles, chest, abdomen, upper and lower extremities. Rigor mortis is allowed in reverse order(down up). However, this scheme is correct only under certain conditions. If rigor mortis is artificially disrupted (for example, by applying force to straighten the upper limbs), then in the first 10-12 hours after death it is able to recover, but to a weaker extent; after this period, rigor mortis does not recover, and the muscles remain in a relaxed state. Such a violation of rigor mortis is possible when moving a corpse, when removing clothes from it and other circumstances. Therefore, when examining a corpse at the scene of an incident, it is necessary not only to establish the presence of rigor mortis, but also to compare the degree of its severity in various groups muscles.

Example.

On suspicion of murder of citizen S., whose body was discovered on March 31, 1997, near the fence of automobile plant No. 133, previously convicted K., a worker of the said automobile plant, was detained, in whom S.’s personal belongings were found - a fur jacket and a sweater. During the investigation, K. denied his guilt in committing the murder, stating that on March 31, 1997, at 7 o’clock in the morning, while going to work at the automobile plant, he discovered the corpse of S., after which, having removed the jacket and sweater from the corpse, he took the things to one of the production premises of the automobile plant. During the investigation, it was established that K. was not involved in the murder of S. One of the main grounds indicating the veracity of K.’s testimony was the fact that when examining the corpse, the forensic expert noted the presence of pronounced rigor mortis in the area of the joints of the lower extremities of the corpse in the complete absence this phenomenon occurs in the joints of the shoulder girdle, in the area of the arms and is preserved to a weak degree in the area of the cervical spine.

The development of rigor mortis accelerates in conditions of high temperature (after 2-4 hours), and at low temperatures it is delayed (after 10-12 hours). Rigor mortis in the corpses of emaciated individuals occurs very quickly, since the mass of the muscles is small and their rigor requires less time than well-developed muscles. There is a rapid development of the process of rigor mortis when glycogen reserves are depleted. The literature describes cases where rigor mortis developed very quickly, while fixing the position of the corpse at the moment of death. More often such cases are observed with severe mechanical damage. medulla oblongata(for example, with a gunshot wound). The so-called cataleptic rigor mortis is also possible, which develops very quickly and also fixes the person’s posture at the moment of death.

The presence and severity of rigor mortis is determined by the tightness or relaxation of muscles, or by checking the possibility of movement in large joints.

Corpse desiccation. After death occurs, the body begins to lose fluid and partially dry out. Drying of the skin and visible mucous membranes becomes noticeable several hours after death. First of all, areas covered with the stratum corneum of the skin or moisturized during life dry out. Relatively quickly (5-6 hours after death), the corneas of open or half-open eyes dry out (they become cloudy, acquire a whitish-yellowish color), the mucous membrane and the border of the lips (dense, wrinkled, brownish-red). Such changes in the mucous membranes and skin are sometimes mistaken for intravital deposits due to injury. If the tip of the tongue protrudes from the mouth, it also becomes dense and brown.

Areas of intravital and postmortem deposits (obtained during transportation of a corpse, providing assistance to a victim, etc.) also quickly dry out and have a brownish with a red tint or a “waxy” color. They are called "parchment spots." The day of establishing the intravital or posthumous origin of such “stains” is necessary. Often, in the first time after death, the affected areas of the skin may not be noticeable. As they dry, they acquire their characteristic appearance. The detection of “parchment spots” of intravital origin may indicate the nature and location of the application of force during mechanical injuries, and, in combination with other data, the nature of violence (for example, compression of the neck with hands during strangulation, damage to the genital area during rape, trauma to the anterolateral surfaces chest as a result of the victim artificial respiration and etc.).

The skin and mucous membranes of newborns, children and the elderly dry out especially quickly. Signs of cadaveric desiccation are used during an external examination of a corpse to ascertain death, when resolving questions about the time of its occurrence, about the intravital or postmortem origin of damage to the skin.

Cadaveric self-digestion (autolysis). With the onset of death, the tissues of the corpse undergo self-digestion under the influence of enzymes, especially tissues and organs rich in enzymes: pancreas, adrenal glands, liver, etc. Internal organs, under the influence of autolysis, become dull, become flabby, and are saturated with red-colored blood plasma. The mucous membrane of the stomach, under the influence of digestive juices, undergoes rapid self-digestion.

U infants such self-digestion can lead to the destruction of the stomach wall and the release of its contents into the abdominal cavity. Sometimes the phenomena of autolysis in the gastrointestinal tract are mistakenly mistaken for the action of destructive poisons (acids, alkalis, etc.).

43.2. Late cadaveric changes

The corpse, depending on the nature of the processes developing in it, is subjected to destruction (rotting) or preservation - mummification, peat tanning, transformation into fat wax. The formation of such changes ends a month and even years after death. They are called late cadaveric changes (phenomena). Their character largely depends on the conditions in which the corpse is located.

The process of decay ultimately leads to the complete disappearance of the organic compounds of the corpse. The development of preservative forms of late cadaveric phenomena largely preserves the appearance of the corpse. Artificial preservation is currently mainly used for short-term preservation of corpses before burial.

Rotting — a complex process of decomposition of organic compounds, primarily proteins, under the influence of microbes. It usually begins on the second or third day after death. The development of decay is accompanied by the formation of a number of gases (hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia, etc.) with a specific, unpleasant odor. The intensity of the decay process depends on many reasons. The most significant factors are ambient temperature and humidity. Rotting occurs quickly at an ambient temperature of +30 - +40C. It develops faster in air than in water or soil. Corpses in coffins rot even more slowly, especially when they are sealed. The decay process slows down sharply at a temperature of 0-1°C; at a lower temperature it can completely stop. Putrefactive processes are significantly accelerated in cases of death from sepsis (blood poisoning) or in the presence of other purulent processes.

Rotting usually begins in the large intestine. If the corpse is in normal room conditions(+16 - +18°C), then on the skin, in places of the large intestine closer to the anterior abdominal wall ( iliac regions- lower lateral parts of the abdomen) on the 2nd-3rd day, green spots appear, which then spread throughout the body and cover it entirely on the 12th-14th day. The gases formed during decay permeate subcutaneous tissue and inflate it (cadaveric emphysema). The face, lips, mammary glands, abdomen, scrotum, and limbs are especially swollen. At the same time, the body increases significantly in volume. Due to the decay of blood in the vessels, the venous network begins to appear through the skin in the form of branched figures of a dirty green color, clearly visible during an external examination of the corpse. Under the influence of gases, the tongue may be pushed out of the mouth. Under surface layer putrefactive blisters filled with bloody fluid form on the skin, which burst over time. Formed by rotting in abdominal cavity gases can even push the fetus out of a pregnant woman’s uterus and at the same time turn it inside out (posthumous birth).

During the process of decay, the skin, organs and tissues gradually soften and turn into a fetid mushy mass, exposing bones. Over time, all soft tissues melt and only a skeleton remains from the corpse. Depending on the burial conditions (the nature of the soil, etc.), complete destruction of the soft tissues and skeletonization of the corpse occurs within approximately 3-4 years. In the open air this process ends much faster (in summer time- for several months). Skeletal bones can be preserved for tens or hundreds of years. The hair color of corpses in the ground changes.

Sharp putrefactive changes in the corpse are not an obstacle to its forensic examination. Even in this condition the corpse can be identified various damages, especially on bones, which have important expert value. Investigative and forensic practice knows cases of solving a number of murders committed by a criminal with high medical qualifications.

Example.

A forensic medical examination of the corpse of medical institute professor P., recovered from the river, did not reveal any signs of violent death; only a study of brain tissue indicated the presence of extensive hemorrhage in the parietal region. A criminal case on this fact was not initiated due to the absence of signs indicating a murder had been committed. Shortly before the death of Professor P., his daughter died from a massive cerebral hemorrhage, as well as a fairly young employee of the department of the same institute. The professor’s colleagues were haunted by the thought of the possible criminality of these deaths. Taking into account the existing relations in the professor’s family, suspicion fell on his son-in-law, an employee of the department S. The discovery of a pocket knife with a broken awl in his possession increased the suspicion of his colleagues, including regarding the probable method of murder. Seven months after the burial, the corpse of Professor P. was exhumed and subjected to additional forensic examination, as a result of which a small fragment of an awl was extracted from the skull of the corpse using a magnet. A through hole of the corresponding diameter was discovered in the parietal region of the skull, which was not noticed during the initial examination of the corpse. The investigation established that S. committed the murders of his wife, father-in-law and colleague in the same way, inflicting a penetrating wound to the parietal region of the skull with an awl of a penknife.

The degree of development of putrefactive decomposition of the corpse is used to make an approximate judgment about the duration of death. Sharp putrefactive changes in the corpse make it significantly difficult, and sometimes impossible, to determine the intravital or postmortem origin of the damage present on the corpse, as well as the cause of death in diseases.

Mummification. Under certain conditions, the rotting that has begun can be stopped due to the rapid drying of the corpse. This phenomenon is called mummification. Under favorable conditions (dry air and sufficient ventilation), complete drying occurs, and the weight of the mummified corpse is about 1/10 of the original. Mummification usually occurs when corpses are found in attics, when they are buried in dry coarse-grained and sandy soils, in well-ventilated crypts, etc. All other things being equal, the rate of development of mummification depends on body weight. It takes 6-12 months to completely mummify an adult corpse. In a state of natural mummification, corpses are preserved for a long time.

The skin of a mummified corpse takes on the appearance of dense parchment of a brownish-brown color, sometimes becoming very brittle, internal organs also dry out completely, lose their appearance, sharply decrease in size and appear as dry, shapeless formations in the form of films. In some cases, only certain parts of the corpse, most often limbs, are mummified.

The rapid drying and preservation of corpses during mummification makes it possible to use them to describe and identify a person (in some cases, for these purposes it is necessary to resort to restoration of the corpse). On the skin of such corpses, the damage that existed during life (strangulation groove, damage from sharp instruments, firearms, etc.) is well preserved, the nature and origin of which can be determined during examination. It is possible to establish previous diseases skeletal system, group specificity of proteins of tissues and organs, which corresponds to the blood group.

Fat wax. When corpses are buried in damp, clayey or swampy soil, as well as when they remain in stagnant bodies of water, the rotting that has begun due to the lack of oxygen is stopped, the tissues and organs of the corpse gradually pass into the state of fat wax (saponification of the corpse). Fat wax is a grayish- white a granular mass with a greasy sheen and a characteristic odor of rancid cheese. As a result, the fabrics acquire a whitish-yellowish color, a coarse-grained appearance, and gradually harden and become crumbly. Promotes the development of fat wax increased content fat in the tissues of the corpse.

The formation of fat wax becomes noticeable after 3-5 weeks. The corpse of a newborn usually turns completely into the adipose wax state after 5-6 months, and the corpse of an adult - no earlier than after 10-12 months. But even in this state, the corpses are suitable for identification; they may retain traces of damage, a strangulation groove and other changes that have great importance for investigation and examination. When examining internal organs, it is sometimes possible to identify even various painful changes.

Peat tanning. When a corpse falls into swampy soil or peat bogs, under the influence of the humic acids and tannin they contain, it undergoes so-called peat tanning. In this case, the skin of the corpse is tanned, becomes dense, dark brown in color, internal organs decrease in size, mineral salts dissolve and wash out in the bones, the bones become soft and are easily cut with a knife, resembling cartilage in consistency.

In this state, corpses are preserved for a long time. Peat tanning fixes the damage present on the corpse and makes it possible to identify the deceased.

Natural preservation of a corpse can also occur in other conditions that contribute to the cessation of the decay process at the very beginning of its development (staying the corpse in water with a high concentration of salts, in oil, at low ambient temperatures, etc.). In such cases, corpses can be preserved for a long time, which allows the expert to resolve a number of issues important for the investigation (cause of death, nature of injuries, etc.).

Destruction of a corpse by animals. Corpses are severely damaged and even completely destroyed by various insects, rodents, predators, etc.

Of the insects, flies (house flies, corpse flies, blue flies, meat flies, etc.) are especially destructive to the corpse. In the warm season, soon after death (during the first hours), a large number of fly eggs can be seen around the eyes, in the openings of the nose, in the mouth, and in wounds. On the second day, white, worm-shaped larvae appear, which, secreting proteolytic enzymes, actively eat the soft tissues of the corpse. Feeding around the clock, in the 2nd week they thicken to 0.3-0.4 cm, their length reaches 1.5 cm. By the end of the 2nd week, the larvae stop feeding and pupate, forming a false cocoon, or puparium, in which there is doll Selected species flies pupate on the corpse; larvae of other species go to a depth of 15-20 cm, where they form a pupa. After 15-30 days (depending on the ambient temperature), adults emerge from the pupae.

In general, the biological development cycle of flies mainly depends on the ambient temperature: when the temperature rises, it accelerates, and when the temperature drops, it slows down. Under favorable conditions, fly larvae can completely skeletonize the corpse of an adult in one month. The speed of skeletonization depends not on the size of the corpse, but on the conditions external environment. Since the cyclical development of flies and other insects on a corpse can be used to approximate the time of death, eggs, larvae, pupae and adult insects found on the corpse should be collected and transferred to the investigator for the appointment of an entomological examination.

Damage to corpses by ants is known (it is believed that within two months they can turn the corpse of an adult into a skeleton), as well as beetles, carrion eaters, ticks, and cockroaches.

When examining a corpse, damage caused by dogs, wolves, jackals, foxes and other animals is sometimes revealed.

These lesions are quite typical - they have an irregular shape with smooth, scalloped (jagged) edges.

In such cases, hair from these animals and droppings may be found around the corpse.

Damage can be caused to a corpse in bodies of water by predatory fish, crayfish, leeches, crabs and other inhabitants; in the open air - by some birds (for example, crows, vultures) that peck out individual areas of the skin, eyes (such damage is sometimes mistaken for puncture wounds) .

43.3. Establishing the time of death

Establishing the time of death is one of the main issues resolved by a forensic expert when examining a corpse at the scene and examining it in the morgue. Knowing the time of death in some cases makes it possible to exclude or confirm the involvement of certain persons in the commission of a crime, and to verify the accuracy of the testimony of witnesses and suspects. Comparison of the time of death of an unknown person with the time of disappearance of a particular person allows us to assume or exclude the possible belonging of the corpse under study to this person.

Currently, most of the methods used to determine the occurrence of death are based on the patterns of development of cadaveric phenomena, especially early ones. Recently, for this purpose, forensic medical practice has begun to increasingly use methods that reveal the preservation of vital functions in individual organs and tissues of the corpse in the first hours after death, as well as the dynamics and patterns of chemical changes occurring in the fluids of the corpse.

Some of existing methods make it possible to judge the time of death indirectly (methods that establish the time of burial of a corpse, the time it spent in water, etc.).

43.4. Determination of the duration of death based on cadaveric phenomena

Study of corpse cooling. There is a certain pattern in the cooling sequence of a corpse. In most cases, the process of cooling a corpse is completed completely within the first day after death (according to some sources - within the first 16 hours after death, according to others - no earlier than 1.5 days after death). Cooling of a corpse begins with the exposed parts of the body; the hands and feet cool first. A noticeable cooling of exposed parts of the body can be detected 1-2 hours after death. Warmth is retained longest in the armpits, stomach and neck under the chin. Therefore, it is recommended to measure body temperature in the armpits, rectum, mouth and other parts of the body. This is done using a medical (maximum) thermometer or some electric thermometers produced by our industry, the latter being preferable. Some thermometers are equipped with special sensors for measuring the temperature in the rectum, armpit and etc.

Table 1.

Dynamics of corpse cooling (V.E. Loktev, B.A. Fedosyutkin, 1992).

Study of cadaveric spots. The time of death is determined based on the presence of cadaveric spots, their ability to turn pale and disappear when pressed, taking into account the conditions affecting the rate of appearance and intensity of cadaveric spots, the amount and condition of the blood (thick or thin), the reasons causing this or that state (disease , poisoning, injury). Thus, with asphyxia, sepsis and a number of other conditions in which the blood remains liquid, cadaveric spots appear quickly and are usually sharply expressed. With thick blood, cadaveric spots are revealed slowly. Cadaveric spots appear very quickly upon death from carbon monoxide poisoning (the transition to the imbibition stage is observed by the end of the day). The reason is severe blood thinning (edema). The rate of appearance of cadaveric spots is also affected by the ambient temperature.

It is impossible to accurately determine the time of death from cadaveric spots - the timing of their appearance and the transition from one stage to another is extremely different, and the duration of each stage is very long. In addition, the assessment of changes in the cadaveric spot when pressing on it is subjective, since the force of pressure cannot be taken into account. To cause the spot to fade at the end of the stasis stage, significant force is required - at least 2 kg/cm2. If the pressure on the area of the spot is not strong enough, it may not fade, which can lead to an incorrect determination of the time of death.

Both in the stage of hypostasis and in the stage of stasis, two phases can be distinguished, characterized by different periods of restoration of the original color of the spot, and these terms largely depend on the time of death (Table 2).

table 2

Dynamics of cadaveric spots (V.E. Loktev, B.A. Fedosyutkin, 1992)

In the first 12-24 hours after death, dynamometry of cadaveric spots can be used to determine the time of death with an accuracy of 2-4 hours. The results obtained must be assessed taking into account the type and cause of death. Dynamometry can also be used to study cadaveric spots that have moved to other areas of the body in the first 14-16 hours from the moment of their formation with an accuracy of determining the timing of death up to 4-6 hours.

Dynamometry of cadaveric spots is undoubtedly of practical importance, but the assessment of the results obtained should be carried out in conjunction with other methods of establishing the duration of death.

Rigor mortis research also allows you to determine the duration of death. Table 3 shows the timing of the onset and resolution of rigor mortis.

Table 3

Dynamics of development of rigor mortis (V.E. Loktev, B.A. Fedosyutkin, 1992)

43.5. Determining the duration of death by studying cadaveric flora and fauna (entomological studies)

At present, the time of appearance and reproduction on a corpse has been well studied. various types insects that eat dead tissue. The timing of egg laying, their transformation into larvae, pupae and adults is known. These data are used in expert practice to diagnose the time elapsed after death.

Detection of testicles, larvae and pupae of flies. Various types of flies lay their eggs in the nasal openings, the corners of the eyes, as well as under the eyelids, in the mouth and in all natural orifices of the body, especially in damp places. The process of development from eggs to adults is determined by the type of fly and conditions (warmth and humidity). Knowing the type of insect and the conditions of its development, one can judge the time that has passed since death.

When determining the time of death, the following approximate calculations are used: fly larvae appear on the corpse approximately 48 hours after death (therefore, the presence of only fly testicles on the corpse indicates that death occurred 24-48 hours ago); after 10-14 days, pupae form from the larvae, after another 12-14 days, the pupae turn into new flies (the flight of flies from the pupae lasts about 2 hours); the presence of empty pupal shells means that the corpse has lain in place for at least 4 weeks. The above calculation is approximate and requires taking into account the specific conditions for the reproduction of insects, mainly the temperature and humidity of the surrounding air. For example, housefly the entire cycle of its development at a temperature of +30 C can take 10-11 days, but at a temperature of +18 C this period is extended to 25-30 days.

Study of the sequence of appearance of various insect species on corpses. There is a certain sequence (alternation) of the appearance of various types of insects on a corpse (buried or unburied). One type is replaced by others. These data can be used to determine the duration of death. In all such cases, it is necessary to conduct a special entomological study.

Study of enzymes and stomach contents. It has now been established that data obtained from the study of enzymes and stomach contents can be used to determine the time of death. But since the length of time food stays in the stomach different persons is different, it is impossible to make an accurate assessment of this characteristic.

It is generally accepted that good filling stomach in the presence of undigested food particles indicates that the person ate less than 2 hours before death. If the stomach is empty, then food was not taken for approximately 2 hours before death. The following indicative data are recommended for judging the length of time food remains in the stomach: after a light meal - 1.5 hours; with an average density of lunch - 3; after a heavy meal - 4 hours.

The degree of bladder filling can also help in deciding how long ago the patient died.

Modern forensic medical practice does not yet have research methods that would allow us to answer the question of time of death with sufficient accuracy. In practice, in each specific case, one should make maximum use of the information obtained using a set of methods, and make a subsequent assessment based on the totality of the results. The choice of methods and their number is determined by the expert based on the specific situation and the technical equipment at his disposal.

Some data to determine the time of death, obtained during inspection of the place where the corpse was found. Indications of the time that has passed since death, in addition to those obtained during the examination of the corpse or its parts, can be given by some features of the place where it was found (for example, dry or wet traces of blood on and around the corpse).

In case of poisoning with hydrocyanic acid or potassium cyanide, if it occurs during daylight hours, a large number of dead flies are found on the windowsills in the apartment.

In the spring and summer months, when a corpse is found on grass or cereals, the condition of the plants under and around the corpse should be compared. If the corpse lay in a given place for more than 6-8 days, then the grass located directly under it and deprived sunlight, will turn pale due to loss of chlorophyll. The development of plants under a corpse is somewhat delayed compared to plants near it. The length of time the corpse remained at the site of its discovery is also indicated by the growth of plant roots through it.

The growth of algae on the surface of the corpse removed from the water indicates that it had been there for about 18-20 days.

Consequently, taking into account some features of the place where the corpse was found, we can also judge the time it spent there. If it is established that the place where the corpse was found is at the same time the place of death of the deceased, then the characteristics of this place can be used to judge the time that has passed since the moment of death. Naturally, in such cases, the time of death must be established based on the totality of all the data obtained during the examination of the corpse. Examination of the scene of the incident will help determine the time that has passed since the death of the subject.

Determining the age of burial. A forensic medical report on the age of burial is extremely important evidence in the investigation of cases involving the discovery of a skeletal corpse.

The data available in the literature indicate that the nature of changes in the bone tissue of buried corpses is determined by the properties of the soil. The degree of severity and timing of appearance depend on them. various signs bone decomposition, which can be noted during examination. The decision on the timing of burial of a corpse based on bone remains can only be carried out using the entire complex objective methods research. In this case, an analysis of the morphological and physicochemical properties of the soil in which the corpse was buried is mandatory.

Rational methods for studying bones to determine how long ago a corpse was buried are: direct microscopy, emission spectral analysis, exposure to ultrasound, etc.

Upon visual inspection of exhumed bones a gradual change in their color and the appearance of traces of surface destruction in the form of weathering and defects in the compact layer are noticeable. However, judging the age of a material based on color alone is only possible in a purely approximate manner. The destruction of bone surfaces is a more reliable sign; it is closely related to the qualitative characteristics of the soil. If surface weathering and defects of the compact layer on the bones of corpses buried in leached low-humus thick black soil appear no less than 20 years after burial, then on bones exhumed from soddy-carbonate and dark red forest soil, defects of the compact layer, especially in the area epiphyses of long tubular bones, are diagnosed 15-17 years after burial (the listed soils have high physicochemical activity). Carbonate low-humus chernozems are even less active in this sense than leached chernozems.

It should be especially noted that soft tissues, ligaments and cartilage of corpses buried in leached low-humus thick black soil are completely destroyed 2-3 years after burial.

It has been established that in places where corpses are buried there is an increased content of free forms phosphoric acid compared to control soil samples. Thus, the presence of a large amount of phosphorus in the soil can serve as an indicator of the burial of a corpse in a given place in the event of its disappearance or the movement of bones.

Direct microscopy method complements visual research and makes it possible to differentiate the time of burial based on the bones of corpses exhumed in the next 15-20 years after burial. The signs of bone decomposition in the soil revealed by this method are a gradual change in color, the appearance of traces of destruction in the form of scarifications, cracks and initial signs mineralization of the surface of the compact layer of the diaphysis femur. Thus, on bones that were exposed to conditions of leached low-humus thick black soil, the first signs of mineralization are revealed 9-19 years after burial. As the length of time the bones remain in the ground increases, the severity of these signs increases.

Changes in the color of bones, determined by microscopy in reflected light, can also be used in a purely indicative form for the purposes of forensic determination of how long ago a corpse was buried.

Emission spectral analysis method most effective when examining exhumed bones to determine how long ago a corpse was buried. Qualitative and semi-quantitative visual assessment of spectrograms allows, based on the content of a number of elements (manganese, aluminum, silicon, iron, strontium), to differentiate fresh bone tissue from exhumed bones of various dates from the burial of a corpse within 10 years. A relative quantitative characteristic expressing the ratio of elements based on the results of photometry of spectrograms with subsequent statistical processing makes it possible to establish the age of burial of a corpse in the range from 2 to 4 years. Using emission spectral analysis, it is possible to simultaneously record the degree of accumulation of various microelements from the soil by bones.

Duration of bone decalcification decreases as the period of its stay in the ground increases. This fact can be used to determine the age of burial of a corpse based on bone remains by taking into account the time required for this process. Depending on the nature of the soil at comparable burial times, bone decalcification varies. Dark gray forest and soddy-carbonate soils have a more active influence on the process of destruction of the mineral component of bones. Based on the duration of decalcification, it is possible to establish the age of burial of a corpse in leached thick chernozem, in soddy-carbonate soil on marls and in carbonate low-humus chernozem with reliability within 2 years.

To avoid mistakes, the following condition must be observed: comprehensive study with analysis of morphological and physical and chemical properties the environment in which the bones were located.

Early cadaveric phenomena include: cooling of the body, cadaveric spots, rigor mortis, drying of tissues.

Cooling the body

Body temperature usually remains at the same level during the first tens of minutes after death. Sometimes it can rise above 40 °C (the action of microbes).

The cooling of the corpse is explained by the cessation of metabolism and heat production. Meanwhile, heat transfer continues. After 45-60 minutes, body temperature decreases more or less uniformly by 1 °C per hour with some fluctuations in one direction or another. A decrease in body temperature below 25 °C is an undoubted sign of death. The speed of the post-mortem temperature drop is influenced by the ambient temperature, wind strength, presence of clothing, location of the corpse, fatness and volume of the body, cause of death, etc.

Cadaveric spots

After the cessation of blood circulation, the movement of blood and other body fluids occurs according to physical laws, i.e., under the influence of gravity, they gradually move to the underlying sections. In this case, blood from the arterial vessels moves into the venous vessels, overflowing them. Due to increased permeability vascular wall blood seeps outside the vessels and accumulates in the tissues, giving them and the skin in these places the appropriate color. Typically, cadaveric spots have a dirty purple color with a predominance of various shades, depending on many reasons, including the cause of death.

For example, in case of carbon monoxide poisoning, cadaveric spots have a bright red color (blood hemoglobin turns into carboxyhemoglobin); in case of poisoning with cyanide compounds, they have a peculiar cherry color. In corpses exposed to the cold, the color of the cadaveric spots is bright pink (due to the oxidation of hemoglobin by air oxygen penetrating through microcracks in the skin that form when body fluids freeze).

Cadaveric spots are found in the underlying parts of the body. When the corpse is positioned on the back, they are found on the back surface of the body; on the stomach, they are found on the front surface. When hanging, if the corpse has not been removed from the noose for a long time, the cadaveric spots are predominantly located on the forearms, legs, and feet.

Stages of formation of cadaveric spots.

1) The hypostasis stage continues for 12 hours after death. The liquid part of the blood is in the vessels and when pressure is applied to the spots, the blood is squeezed out of the vessels, and after the pressure stops, it quickly fills them again. This leads to the disappearance of cadaveric spots when pressure is applied, as well as to their movement to the underlying sections when the body position changes.

2) The stage of stasis (diffusion) is observed after 12 hours from the moment of death and lasts up to 24 hours. Cadaveric spots turn pale, but do not disappear when pressed. This is due to the fact that the liquid part of the blood, stretching the wall of the vessel, begins to seep into the tissue. In parallel with this, hemolysis of red blood cells occurs. At this stage, the spots do not move when the position of the corpse changes, but somewhat reduce their intensity.

3) The stage of imbibition develops on the second day after death. Cadaveric spots are well fixed, do not move, and do not turn pale when pressed, since the soft tissues are saturated with blood.

The severity of cadaveric spots varies and depends on the cause of death, the nature of the disease and the mechanism of dying. For example, in case of death with a long agonal period, as well as in death from acute blood loss, cadaveric spots are slightly expressed. On the contrary, in cases of rapid death (mechanical asphyxia, electrical trauma, etc.), the cadaveric spots are well defined.

Forensic significance:

1) cadaveric spots - undoubtedly, the most early sign of death;

2) they reflect the position of the body and its possible changes after death;

3) allow you to roughly determine the time of death;

4) the degree of severity reflects the speed of death;

5) the color of cadaveric spots serves as a diagnostic sign for some poisonings or may indicate the conditions in which the corpse was located;

6) they allow us to talk about the nature of the objects on which the corpse was located (brushwood, folds of linen, etc.).

Rigor mortis

After death, the muscles of the body relax and become soft and pliable. After 2-4 hours (in some cases earlier), signs of rigor mortis appear. At the same time, all the muscles become dense, hard, contract somewhat and fix the body in the position (pose) in which it was after death. To change this fixed position of the body in the rigor stage, considerable effort must be made. Rigor mortis manifests itself more quickly in the masticatory muscles, and gradually spreads downward, i.e., to the muscles of the neck, chest, upper extremities, abdomen, and lower extremities. By the end of the day (sometimes after 12 hours), the entire corpse is in a state of rigor. This condition lasts 2-3 days, and then usually disappears in the same order in which it appeared.

Like other cadaveric phenomena, rigor mortis is influenced by a number of internal and external factors. For example, high temperature accelerates all chemical processes, including the development and resolution of rigor mortis. At low temperatures, these processes, on the contrary, slow down. With small muscle mass(children, thin people, old people) rigor is less pronounced, comes and disappears faster. In case of death from brain injuries and spinal cord, poisoning with poisons affecting the central nervous system, with epilepsy, tetanus, after severe muscle load Before death, rigor mortis occurs faster, lasts longer, and is more pronounced. Rigor mortis can sometimes develop instantly, immediately after death. This phenomenon is called “cadaveric spasm” or “cataleptic rigor.” In this case, the position in which the deceased was at the time of death is recorded. The development of this type of rigor is associated with damage to the medulla oblongata, which causes convulsive muscle contracture.

Forensic significance:

1) rigor mortis is an undoubted sign of death;

2) rigor mortis fixes the position that a person took after death;

3) by the degree of spread of rigor mortis, one can get an idea of the time of death;

4) the severity of rigor mortis provides some assistance in recognizing the cause of death.

Drying fabrics

The process of post-mortem drying depends on the evaporation of moisture from the skin and especially from the mucous membranes of the lips and eyes. The degree and speed of drying depend on the state of the external environment (temperature, air humidity, etc.), the nature of the clothing, the characteristics of the corpse itself, etc.

Drying occurs most quickly in areas of the conjunctiva of the eyes that are not covered by eyelids (4-5 hours after death). In this case, horizontal stripes or triangular shape brownish areas in the area of the corners of the eyes (Larshe's spots, 1868).

The mucous membrane of the lips, especially at the border with the transitional border, also undergoes drying. This sign is better expressed in the corpses of newborns and infants, since their mucous membranes are more delicate and dry out faster.

Clinical death continues from the moment the cardiac activity, breathing and functioning of the central nervous system ceases and until irreversible pathological changes develop in the brain. Able clinical death anaerobic metabolism in tissues continues due to reserves accumulated in cells. Once these stocks are in nerve tissue ends, she dies. In the complete absence of oxygen in the tissues, the death of cells in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum (the most sensitive parts of the brain to oxygen starvation) begins within 2-2.5 minutes. After the death of the cortex, restoration of the vital functions of the body becomes impossible, that is, clinical death turns into biological death.

In the case of successful active resuscitation measures, the duration of clinical death is usually taken to be the time elapsed from the moment of cardiac arrest to the start of resuscitation (since modern methods of resuscitation, such as maintaining the minimum required blood pressure, blood purification, artificial ventilation, exchange transfusion or donor artificial blood circulation, allow you to maintain the life of nervous tissue for quite a long time).

Under normal conditions, the duration of clinical death is no more than 5-6 minutes. The duration of clinical death is influenced by the cause of death, conditions, duration, age of the dying person, the degree of his excitement, body temperature at the time of dying and other factors. In some cases, clinical death can last up to half an hour, for example, when drowning in cold water when due low temperature metabolic processes in the body, including the brain, slow down significantly. With the help of prophylactic artificial hypothermia, the duration of clinical death can be increased to 2 hours. On the other hand, some circumstances can greatly shorten the duration of clinical death, for example, in the case of dying from severe blood loss, pathological changes in the nervous tissue that make it impossible to restore life can develop even before cardiac arrest.

Clinical death is, in principle, reversible - modern resuscitation technology allows, in some cases, to restore the functioning of life important organs, after which the central nervous system “turns on” and consciousness returns. However, in reality, the number of people who experienced clinical death without serious consequences, is small: after clinical death in a medical hospital, about 4-6% of patients survive and fully recover, another 3-4% survive, but suffer severe disorders of higher nervous activity, the rest die. In some cases, with a late start of resuscitation measures or their ineffectiveness due to the severity of the patient’s condition, the patient may switch to the so-called “vegetative life”. In this case, it is necessary to distinguish between two states: the state of complete decortication and the state of brain death.

Biological death is a necrotic process in all tissues, starting with the neurons of the cerebral cortex, the necrosis of which occurs within 1 hour after the cessation of blood circulation, and then within 2 hours the death of cells of all internal organs occurs.

The fact of the attack biological death can be determined by a doctor or paramedic based on the presence of reliable signs, and before their formation, based on the totality of the following symptoms:

Absence of cardiac activity (no pulse on large arteries; heart sounds are not heard, there is no bioelectrical activity of the heart);

The time of absence of cardiac activity is reliably more than 25 minutes (at normal ambient temperature);

Lack of spontaneous breathing;

Maximum dilation of the pupils and their lack of reaction to light;

Absence of corneal reflex;

The presence of postmortem hypostasis in sloping parts of the body.

With some intracerebral pathology, as well as after resuscitation measures, sometimes a situation arises when the functions of the central nervous system, primarily the cerebral cortex, are completely and irreversibly lost, while cardiac activity is preserved, blood pressure is maintained or maintained by vasopressors, and breathing is provided by mechanical ventilation. This condition is called brain death (“brain death”).

The diagnosis of brain death is very difficult to make. There are the following criteria:

Complete and persistent lack of consciousness;

Persistent lack of spontaneous breathing;

Disappearance of any reactions to external stimuli and any types of reflexes;

Atony of all muscles;

Disappearance of thermoregulation;

Complete and persistent absence of spontaneous and evoked electrical activity of the brain (according to the encephalogram).

The diagnosis of brain death has implications for organ transplantation. Once it has been identified, organs can be removed for transplantation into recipients.

In such cases, when making a diagnosis, it is additionally necessary to:

Angiography of cerebral vessels, which indicates the absence of blood flow or its level below critical;

Conclusions of specialists: a neuropathologist, resuscitator, forensic medical expert, as well as an official representative of the hospital, confirming brain death.

According to the legislation existing in most countries, “brain death” is equated to biological death.

Introduction

Cadaveric phenomena are changes that the organs and tissues of a corpse undergo after the onset of biological death. Cadaveric phenomena are divided into early and late. The early ones include cooling of the corpse, cadaveric spots, rigor mortis, desiccation and autolysis; to the later ones - rotting, skeletonization, mummification, waxing and peat tanning.

Regardless of the mechanism of biological death, it is always preceded by the moment of clinical death. Depending on the speed of death, agonal death and acute death are distinguished. Agonal death is accompanied by a fairly long terminal period. In acute death, the terminal period is short or practically absent (a typical example of acute death is death due to mechanical asphyxia). The onset of death is always preceded by terminal conditions that influence the nature of postmortem changes.

Early cadaveric phenomena

Early cadaveric phenomena are of great forensic medical importance, as they allow solving a number of important problems for the investigation: determining the time of death, the initial position of the corpse, suggesting poisoning with certain toxic substances, etc. Early cadaveric changes include: cooling of the corpse, formation of cadaveric spots and rigor mortis, partial drying of the corpse, cadaveric autolysis.

Cooling the corpse . Due to the cessation of metabolic processes in the body, the temperature of the corpse gradually decreases to the ambient temperature (air, water, etc.). The degree of cooling depends on a number of factors: ambient temperature (the lower it is, the faster the cooling occurs, and vice versa), the nature of the clothing on the corpse (the warmer it is, the slower the cooling occurs), fatness (in obese people, cooling occurs more slowly than in exhausted), causes of death, etc. Parts of the body not covered by clothing cool faster than those covered. The influence of all these factors on the cooling rate is taken into account approximately.

In the literature there is data on the time required to cool the corpse of an adult to ambient temperature: at a temperature of +20C - approximately 30 hours, at +10C - 40 hours, at +5C - 50 hours. At low temperatures (below -4C), cooling turns to freezing. It is better to measure the temperature of a corpse in the rectum. It is generally accepted that, on average, the temperature in the rectum decreases at room temperature (+16-17C) by about one degree per hour and, therefore, by the end of the day it is compared with the ambient temperature. The temperature of the corpse should be measured after a strictly defined time - at the beginning and at the end of the inspection of the crime scene, and then after the corpse arrives at the morgue (taking into account the ambient temperature). It is better to measure the temperature every two hours.

In the absence of a thermometer, the temperature of a corpse can be judged approximately by touching closed parts of the body (open parts of the body cool faster and do not reflect the temperature of the entire corpse). It is better to do this by feeling the armpits of the corpse with the palm of your hand. The degree of cooling of the corpse is one of the reliable signs of death (body temperature below +25C usually indicates death).

Cadaveric spots. They arise due to post-mortem redistribution of blood in the corpse. After cardiac arrest, the movement of blood through the vessels stops, and due to its gravity, it begins to gradually descend into the relatively lower located parts of the corpse, overflowing and expanding the capillaries and small venous vessels. The latter are visible through the skin in the form of bluish-purple spots, which are called cadaveric spots. The higher located parts of the body do not have cadaveric spots. They appear approximately two hours (sometimes 20-30 minutes) after death.

Rigor mortis. After death occurs, biological processes occur in the muscles of the corpse, leading first to relaxation, and then (3-4 hours after death) to their contraction, hardening and rigor. In this state, the muscles of the corpse prevent passive movements in the joints, therefore, physical force must be used to straighten the limbs that are in a state of severe rigor mortis. Full development of rigor mortis in all muscle groups is achieved on average by the end of the day. After 1.5-3 days, rigor disappears (resolves), which is expressed in muscle relaxation.

A certain sequence can be traced in the development of rigor mortis; it follows a descending pattern - first, the masticatory muscles of the face undergo rigor, then the muscles of the neck, chest, abdomen, upper and lower extremities. Rigor mortis is allowed in the reverse order (from bottom to top). However, this scheme is correct only under certain conditions. If rigor mortis is artificially disrupted (for example, by applying force to straighten the upper limbs), then in the first 10-12 hours after death it is able to recover, but to a weaker extent; after this period, rigor mortis does not recover, and the muscles remain in a relaxed state. Such a violation of rigor mortis is possible when moving a corpse, when removing clothes from it and other circumstances. Therefore, when examining a corpse at the scene of an incident, it is necessary not only to establish the presence of rigor mortis, but also to compare the degree of its severity in different muscle groups.

The development of rigor mortis accelerates in conditions of high temperature (after 2-4 hours), and at low temperatures it is delayed (after 10-12 hours). Rigor mortis in the corpses of emaciated individuals occurs very quickly, since the mass of the muscles is small and their rigor requires less time than well-developed muscles. There is a rapid development of the process of rigor mortis when glycogen reserves are depleted. The literature describes cases where rigor mortis developed very quickly, while fixing the position of the corpse at the moment of death. More often, such cases are observed with severe mechanical damage to the medulla oblongata (for example, with a gunshot wound). The so-called cataleptic rigor mortis is also possible, which develops very quickly and also fixes the person’s posture at the moment of death.

The presence and severity of rigor mortis is determined by the tightness or relaxation of muscles, or by checking the possibility of movement in large joints.

Corpse desiccation . After death occurs, the body begins to lose fluid and partially dry out. Drying of the skin and visible mucous membranes becomes noticeable several hours after death. First of all, areas covered with the stratum corneum of the skin or moisturized during life dry out. Relatively quickly (5-6 hours after death), the corneas of open or half-open eyes dry out (they become cloudy, acquire a whitish-yellowish color), the mucous membrane and the border of the lips (dense, wrinkled, brownish-red). Such changes in the mucous membranes and skin are sometimes mistaken for intravital deposits due to injury. If the tip of the tongue protrudes from the mouth, it also becomes dense and brown.

Areas of intravital and postmortem deposits (obtained during transportation of a corpse, providing assistance to a victim, etc.) also quickly dry out and have a brownish with a red tint or a “waxy” color. They are called "parchment spots." To establish the intravital or postmortem origin of such “spots,” it is necessary to examine them microscopically. Often, in the first time after death, the affected areas of the skin may not be noticeable. As they dry, they acquire their characteristic appearance. The detection of “parchment spots” of intravital origin may indicate the nature and location of the application of force during mechanical injuries, and, in combination with other data, the nature of violence (for example, compression of the neck with hands during strangulation, damage to the genital area during rape, trauma to the anterolateral surfaces chest as a result of artificial respiration performed on the victim, etc.).

Cadaveric self-digestion (autolysis) ). With the onset of death, the tissues of the corpse undergo self-digestion under the influence of enzymes, especially tissues and organs rich in enzymes: pancreas, adrenal glands, liver, etc. Internal organs, under the influence of autolysis, become dull, become flabby, and are saturated with red-colored blood plasma. The mucous membrane of the stomach, under the influence of digestive juices, undergoes rapid self-digestion.

In infants, such self-digestion can lead to the destruction of the stomach wall and the release of its contents into the abdominal cavity. Sometimes the phenomena of autolysis in the gastrointestinal tract are mistakenly mistaken for the action of destructive poisons (acids, alkalis, etc.).

Conclusion

For a relatively short period of time after death, some physiological processes remain in the corpse: hair and nails continue to grow, the viability of some tissues and organs, blood cells and bone marrow, sperm activity, etc. The phenomenon of tissue preservation of certain physiological properties is one of the prerequisites for the posthumous procurement of blood, corneas, skin, bones, and individual internal organs for the purpose of their subsequent transplantation to a living person.

Physiological tissue reactions dead body have a completely natural tendency to sequential extinction, which makes it possible to use these reactions for forensic purposes to determine the duration of death.

List of sources used:

1. Pashinyan G.A., Kharin G.M., Forensic medicine, 2001.

2. Pigolkin I.Yu. Forensic medicine, 2012

3. Samishchenko S.S. Forensic medicine, 1998