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the effect of some forms of stimulus on the body a. HIT – bolo, blunt instrument, axe
The effect of the application of stimulus may be b. THRUST or STAB – dagger
immediate or may be delayed c. GUNPOWDER EXPLOSION – projectile or shrapnel
A thrust to the body of a sharp-pointed and sharp- wound
edged instrument will lead to the immediate d. SLIDING or RUBBING or ABRASION
production of a stab wound, while a hit by a blunt
object may cause the delayed production of a As regards to Depth of the Wound:
contusion a. SUPERFICIAL – involves only layers of the skin
b. DEEP – involves inner structure
CAUSES OF PHYSICAL INJURY o Penetrating – enters the body but did not
A. Physical Violence come out or piercing of a solid organ or
B. Heat or Cold tissue (puncture, stab, gunshot)
C. Electrical Energy o Perforating – piercing or transversing
D. Chemical Energy completely through a part of the body
E. Radiation by Radio-Active Substances causing a point of entry and point of exit
F. Change of Atmospheric Pressure (Barotrauma)
G. Infection As regards to Reaction to Site of the Application of Force and
the Location of Injury:
MEDICO-LEGAL ASPECTS OF PHYSICAL INJURIES a. COUP INJURY – located at site of application
b. CONTRE-COUP INJURY – located at opposite side of
A. PHYSICAL INJURIES BROUGHT ABOUT the application force
BY PHYSICAL VIOLENCE c. COUP CONTRE-COUP INJURY – located at the site
and opposite the site of the application of force
Wound
The effect of the application of physical violence on a Special Types of Wounds:
person
the disruption of the natural continuity of any tissue a. DEFENSE WOUND
of the living body - the result of a person’s instinctive reaction of self-protection
- Injuries suffered by a person to avoid or repel potential
Vital Reaction injury contemplated by the aggressor
- A person who is conscious that he is going to be hit by a
It is the sum total of all reactions of tissue or organ to
blunt instrument on the head may raise his flexed forearms
trauma.
over his head, causing injuries on the forearms
May be observed macroscopically or microscopically.
The following are common reactions of a living tissue
b. PATTERNED WOUND
to trauma:
- Wound in the nature and shape of an object or instrument
o RUBOR – redness due to increased blood
and which infers the object or instrument causing it
supply
- Impact of the face on the radiator grill of any car may cause
o CALOR – sensation of heat or warmth
imprint of the radiator grill on the face
o DOLOR – pain in involvement of pain - A person run over by a wheel of a car, tire marks are shown
sensory nerve on the body
o TUMOR - inflammation - Due to hanging, the nature of the abrasion of the abrasion
o LOSS OF FUNCTION mark on the neck may infer material used
Punctured wound with puncturing instrument “loaded” with 1. SOMATIC OR CLINICAL DEATH
poison: - This is the state of the body in which there is complete,
a. Poison dart — cyanide or nicotine persistent, and continuous cessation of the vital functions of
b. Fish spines the brain, heart, and lungs to maintain life and health
c. Dog bites with hydrophobia virus It occurs the moment the physician or family members
d. Injection of air and poison as a way of euthanasia declare the death of the person
- Immediately after death, the face and lips become pale, the
D. LACERATED WOUND (TEAR, RUPTURE, STRETCH muscles become flaccid, sphincters relax, the lower jaw
“PUTOK”) drops, the eyelids remain open, pupils dilate, and the skin
Lacerated wound is a tear of the skin and the loses elasticity
underlying tissues due to forcible contact with a
blunt instrument 2. MOLECULAR OR CELLULAR DEATH
It may be produced by a hit with a piece of wood, - After cessation of the vital functions of the body there is still
iron bar, fist blow, stone butt of firearm, or other animal life among individuals
objects without sharp objects -Three to six hours later, there is death of individual cells. This
If the force applied to a tissue is greater than its is known as MOLECULAR or CELLULAR death
cohesive force and elasticity, the tissue tears and a
laceration is produced 3. “APPARENT DEATH” OR “STATE OF SUSPENDED
It may be produced by a hit with a piece of wood, ANIMATION”
iron bar, fist blow, stone butt of firearm, or other - This condition is not really death by merely a transient loss of
objects without sharp objects consciousness or temporary cessation of vital functions of the
body due to disease or other stimuli (ex. Epilepsy, hysteria,
electric shock)
SIGNS OF DEATH - The fall of temperature of 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit is
considered as a sign of death
1. Cessation of heart action and circulation
- There must be an entire and continuous cessation of the + POST MORTEM CALORICITY
heart action and flow of blood in the whole system Rise of temperature of the body after death due to rapid and
- A temporary suspension of the heart action is still early internal changes in the body.
compatible with life, depending on the length of time the Usually observed in the first two hours after death
functions are reestablished
- General rule: if there is no heart function in a period of FIVE FORMULA:
MINUTES, death is certain
- Respiration ceases frequently before the stoppage of the (Normal temp) 98.4F – (Rectal temp)
heart contraction and circulation 1.5
- The atrium is usually the last to stop beating: this is called
ULTIMEN MARIENS = Approximate number of hours after death
- In judicial hanging, the heart continues to beat for 20-30
MINUTES after the person has been executed INFLUENCE OF BACTERIA IN DECOMPOSITION:
- In decapitation, heart beating is present for 1 HOUR after
decapitation has taken place Decomposition is due to the action of bacteria in various
tissues of the body.
Methods of Detecting the Cessation of Heart Action and The microorganism that plays an important and dominant
Circulation: role in decomposition is CLOSTRIDIUM WELCHII.
A. EXAMINATION OF THE HEART
- Palpation of the Pulse Other destructive agents during decomposition:
- Weak and irregular A. FLIES
- Auscultation of the Heart Sound 1. Maggots (Larvae)
- Fluoroscopic examination Depends on the accessibility of adult flies to the body
- Electrocardiograph The maggots have a strong desire to live in damaged skin
surface
Maggots may also be observed in bodies buried in shallow
graves and floating decomposing bodies in water pools
2. Adult flies
Common house flies are carnivorous
They eat juicy areas of exposed portions of the body
Decomposition by adult flies is observed better when the
body is found on surface ground
B. REPTILES
Lizards and snakes are attracted to dead bodies and eat the
soft tissues.
Small bones may be fractured in the process and may be
mistaken for physical injury before death
C. MICE
Mice will nibble the skin and other tissues of the
decomposing body.
The bones may also be attacked
ASPHYXIA
- there is a pronounced retention of CO2
- there is a subsequent increase in respiratory action since
there is an obstruction in the respiratory orifices