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What are the relative capacities of arteries, veins, and capillaries in the human body?
What are the relative capacities of arteries, veins, and capillaries in the human body?
Livor Mortis is the settling of blood due to gravity after death.
Livor Mortis is the settling of blood due to gravity after death.
True
Pressure points will not discolor due to livor mortis or hemolysis.
Pressure points will not discolor due to livor mortis or hemolysis.
True
Hemolysis is the breakdown of red blood cells which releases hemoglobin into the surrounding tissue, creating a permanent discoloration.
Hemolysis is the breakdown of red blood cells which releases hemoglobin into the surrounding tissue, creating a permanent discoloration.
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Only arterial injection gives a clear indication of livor mortis.
Only arterial injection gives a clear indication of livor mortis.
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What is the term for the process where plasma separates from blood cells and escapes into the tissues?
What is the term for the process where plasma separates from blood cells and escapes into the tissues?
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What is the term for the thicker, more viscous blood that remains in the vascular system after the plasma escapes into the tissue?
What is the term for the thicker, more viscous blood that remains in the vascular system after the plasma escapes into the tissue?
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Tissues will have a lower moisture level after plasma escapes into the tissues.
Tissues will have a lower moisture level after plasma escapes into the tissues.
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What is the term for the chemical process that occurs in the blood after death that leads to the formation of clots?
What is the term for the chemical process that occurs in the blood after death that leads to the formation of clots?
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Post-mortem caloricity is the decrease in body temperature after death.
Post-mortem caloricity is the decrease in body temperature after death.
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Refrigeration of the body will increase the amount of clots in the body.
Refrigeration of the body will increase the amount of clots in the body.
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Chicken Fat Clot formation typically begins after the time of death.
Chicken Fat Clot formation typically begins after the time of death.
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The formation of Chicken Fat Clot is due to the rapid circulation of blood.
The formation of Chicken Fat Clot is due to the rapid circulation of blood.
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What is the other name for the Currant Jelly Clot?
What is the other name for the Currant Jelly Clot?
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During pre-injection, a Cruor Clot can be easily displaced into a liquid state.
During pre-injection, a Cruor Clot can be easily displaced into a liquid state.
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What is the protein that makes up a white fibrin heart clot?
What is the protein that makes up a white fibrin heart clot?
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White Fibrin Heart Clots are often seen during embalming due to the travel of arterial fluid and drainage through the chambers of the heart.
White Fibrin Heart Clots are often seen during embalming due to the travel of arterial fluid and drainage through the chambers of the heart.
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Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of clotting in blood?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of clotting in blood?
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Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of sludged blood?
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of sludged blood?
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Sludged blood can be easily rehydrated.
Sludged blood can be easily rehydrated.
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Unlike blood clots, sludged blood does not have a tendency to gravitate.
Unlike blood clots, sludged blood does not have a tendency to gravitate.
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Hemolysis is a type of clot that occurs in the blood after death.
Hemolysis is a type of clot that occurs in the blood after death.
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Pressure points, where the body has been pressed against a surface, can lead to the formation of livor mortis.
Pressure points, where the body has been pressed against a surface, can lead to the formation of livor mortis.
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The blood clotting process helps the body to stop bleeding.
The blood clotting process helps the body to stop bleeding.
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A Chicken Fat Clot forms during the agonal period.
A Chicken Fat Clot forms during the agonal period.
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Sludged blood is usually caused by the body's immune system attacking the blood cells.
Sludged blood is usually caused by the body's immune system attacking the blood cells.
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Livor mortis is a type of blood clot.
Livor mortis is a type of blood clot.
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The term "extravasation" refers to the process of removing blood from the body during embalming.
The term "extravasation" refers to the process of removing blood from the body during embalming.
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Arterial fluid is used to help remove blood clots from the body.
Arterial fluid is used to help remove blood clots from the body.
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Post-mortem caloricity can cause a decrease in body temperature.
Post-mortem caloricity can cause a decrease in body temperature.
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The formation of a Chicken Fat Clot is associated with a faster than normal blood flow.
The formation of a Chicken Fat Clot is associated with a faster than normal blood flow.
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Livor mortis is a more reliable indicator of death than hemolysis.
Livor mortis is a more reliable indicator of death than hemolysis.
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The presence of a Cruor Clot is a strong indication that death was sudden.
The presence of a Cruor Clot is a strong indication that death was sudden.
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Sludging of blood is caused by the separation of blood cells from plasma due to gravity.
Sludging of blood is caused by the separation of blood cells from plasma due to gravity.
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Embalming fluid can be used to rehydrate sludged blood.
Embalming fluid can be used to rehydrate sludged blood.
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A Chicken Fat Clot is a type of post-mortem clotting that can be dissolved with pre-injection.
A Chicken Fat Clot is a type of post-mortem clotting that can be dissolved with pre-injection.
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White Fibrin Heart Clots are formed from a mix of white and red blood cells.
White Fibrin Heart Clots are formed from a mix of white and red blood cells.
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Livor mortis can be reversed if the body is moved.
Livor mortis can be reversed if the body is moved.
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The circulatory system plays a role in the formation of both blood clots and sludged blood.
The circulatory system plays a role in the formation of both blood clots and sludged blood.
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Hemolysis causes a lasting discoloration in the tissue due to the release of red blood cells.
Hemolysis causes a lasting discoloration in the tissue due to the release of red blood cells.
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Study Notes
Post Mortem Blood Changes
-
Relative Capacities: Arteries hold 5%, veins 10%, and capillaries 85% of the blood. Capillaries offer the most resistance to embalming due to their microscopic size.
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Livor Mortis: Blood settles due to gravity after death. It settles into dependent areas. Livor mortis can start before death if circulation is weak.
Hemolysis
- Pressure points: Pressure points do not usually change color.
- Resistance in congested areas increases. Drainage chemicals, massaging, and pulsators help clear issues.
- RBC breakdown: Red blood cells break down, releasing hemoglobin into surrounding tissues, causing permanent staining.
- Hemolysis is noticeable in areas where livor mortis has already formed.
Sludging of Blood
- Plasma Separation: Plasma separates from blood cells and leaks into surrounding tissue, occurring at the capillary level.
- Extravasation: This process is known as extravasation.
- Sludge: Blood left in the vascular system has a lower moisture level compared to surrounding tissues, making it thicker and viscous.
- Tissues have a higher moisture level forming tertiary edema.
Blood Coagulation
- Temperature: Coagulation occurs when body temperature approaches or surpasses normal body temperature after death.
- Refrigeration: Refrigeration lowers body temperature, reducing the amount of clots.
Blood Coagulation (continued)
- Clot Formation: Clots can act like corks, plugging blood vessels. The more liquid the blood, the easier it is for arterial solution to spread and for fluids to drain.
Chicken Fat Clot
- Agonal Period: Starts forming during the agonal period (prior to death).
- Blood Separation: Slow circulation allows blood components to separate.
- Clot Characteristics: Clot is two-toned (red and white), tough and fibrous, and doesn't dissolve with pre-injection.
Currant Jelly/Cruor Clot
- Homogenous Mass: True post-mortem clot. Blood forms a homogenous (same type) mass, not yet separated.
- Jelly-like: Red, jelly-like, easily fragmented.
- Sudden Deaths: More prominent in sudden deaths.
Cruor Clots (continued)
- Ease of Displacement: Easier to displace.
- Pre-injection: Loosely formed clots may tumble back into liquid form after pre-injection.
White Fibrin Heart Clot
- Fibrin Protein: Made of fibrin (an insoluble protein).
- Chemical Coagulation: Final stage of chemical coagulation of blood before scar tissue forms.
- Rare Observation: Rarely seen since arterial fluids and drainage don't pass through the chambers of the heart.
Clots vs. Sludged
- Clots: Lessened by refrigeration; semi-solid mass; need fragmentation; happens immediately after or shortly following death; can't gravitate.
- Sludged Blood: Worsened by refrigeration; thick but liquid; can be re-hydrated; often starts before death; will gravitate; can stain and increase resistance due to saturation.
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Description
Test your knowledge on post mortem blood changes, including livor mortis, hemolysis, and sludging of blood. This quiz will explore how blood behaves after death and the factors influencing these changes. Understand the implications of these processes in forensic science.
