Postmortem changes – Early

• Imbalance between heat production and heat loss.
• Loss of heat of body by means of conduction convection and radiation, till it balances with the temperature of surroundings.
• Rate of cooling is fast during first few hours and later slows.
• Temperature is recorded by Chemical thermometer- Thanotometer 25 cms.

Recording of temperature :

• Normal temp. – Rectal temp.
• Rate of temp. fall/hour
• Variation of body temperature
• Conditions in which heat may be retained or increased.
• Sunstroke and pontine haemorrhage, disturbed heat-regulating mechanism.
• Tetanus and strychnine poisoning, due to increase in heat production in the muscle.
• Acute bacterial or viral infection, lobar pneumonia, typhoid fever, encephalitis, etc.
• Intense asphyxial conditions- rise of temp by 2-3 c at death“ Postmortem Caloricity”

The rate of cooling of the body is modified by the following conditions;

• Age
• Condition of the body
• Mode of death
• Surroundings
• Environmental temperature

Postmortem Lividity

• It means discolouration or staining of the skin and organs after death due to accumulation of fluid blood in the dependent parts of the body. 
• Post mortem staining/Hypostasis/Suggilation/ Vibices/ Livour mortis.
• 1- 3 hr. Starts
•   6-8 hr. Fixes.
• Is the fourth stage and one of the signs of death.
• Purple coloration of dependent parts, except in areas of contact pressure, appearing within 30 minutes to 2 hours after death, as a result of gravitational movement of deoxygenated blood within the vessels. 
• If the body is lying in moving water, due to constant movement of the body postmortem lividity may not develop.

Colour of post mortem lividity (hypostasis)

1. Normal – Bluish pink which later turns into bluish purple
2. Hypothermic- Bright Pink
3. Carbon monoxide – Bright cherry red
4. Cyanide – Pink
5. Phosphorous – Dark brown
6. Nitrates – Reddish brown
7. Chlorates – Chocolate brown
8. Hydrogen sulphide – Bluish Green
9. Aniline – Deep blue
10. Opiates – Black

Starts immediately after death with generalised relaxation of muscle tone:

• Drop of lower Jaw
• Eye balls lose their tension
• Pupils are dilated
• Joints are flabby
• Smooth relaxation- incontinence of Urine and Faeces.

Early changes

1. Changes in the eye
2. Changes in the skin
3. Cooling of the body/Algor mortis
4. Post-mortem lividity/Hypostasis
5. Rigor mortis/Cadaveric rigidity

Changes In Eye

• Brownish discolouration of the sclera due to cellular debris and dust-Tache noire

Changes in Skin

• Wounds caused during life will retain their characteristic features

Cooling Of Body/Algor Mortis

• Imbalance between heat production and heat loss.
• Tetanus and strychnine poisoning, due to increase in heat production in the muscle.
• Acute bacterial or viral infection, lobar pneumonia, typhoid fever, encephalitis, etc.

Postmortem Lividity

• Post mortem staining/Hypostasis/Suggilation/ Vibices/ Livour mortis.-  1- 3 hr. Starts
• Purple coloration of dependent parts, except in areas of contact pressure, appearing within 30 minutes to 2 hours after death, as a result of gravitational movement of deoxygenated blood within the vessels. 
• If the body is lying in moving water, due to constant movement of the body postmortem lividity may not develop.

Colour of post mortem lividity (hypostasis)

1. Normal – Bluish pink which later turns into bluish purple
2. Hypothermic- Bright Pink
3. Carbon monoxide – Bright cherry red
4. Cyanide – Pink
5. Phosphorous – Dark brown
6. Nitrates – Reddish brown
7. Chlorates – Chocolate brown
8. Hydrogen sulphide – Bluish Green
9. Aniline – Deep blue
10. Opiates – Black

Medicolegal Importance of Postmortem Lividity

• It gives the information about the position of the body at the time of death
• Time since death can be estimated

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