Presumptive Signs of Death

The signs of death must be determined not only for its medico-legal implication but also
to exclude apparent death by the early as well as the late changes which occurred in
the body at the time of death or within the next few minutes extending into the first and
subsequent hours.
1. Cessation of Respiration- It has been observed that when a person is dying,
the breathing becomes irregular and then suddenly in gaps separated by long
periods of interval until a last expiratory movement which is usually accepted as
the outward and visible sign of death which has occurred. A person can hold
his breath not longer than three and a half-minute but a persistent,
continuous cessation of breathing after five minutes without spontaneous
breathing and repeated testing for at least two minutes interval at each
testing is considered as respiratory failure.
2. 2. Cessation of Heart Beating and Circulation - Upon death, the heart stops
beating in a persistent and continuous manner which cannot be revived by
cardiac massage and other resuscitative measures for about a period of five
minutes. Subsequently, the pulse beat stopped and also the circulation of blood
flow to different parts of the body. In this condition, the person is pronounced to
be dead. In case of decapitation, or cutting of the head and judicial hanging,
the heart beat persists for 15 minutes to 1 hour.
3. scene investigator.
3. Algor Mortis (Cooling of the Body)
The standard that is commonly applied is that the body cools at a rate of 1 ½
degrees F (17 degrees Celsius) per hour. Based on a deep rectal temperature of 99.6
degrees (37.5 degree Celsius) in a living person, a rectal temperature of 95 degrees
(35 degree Celsius) in a deceased person would indicate a 3-hours postmortem
interval.
4. Rigor Mortis (Stiffening of the Body)
Chemical reaction that causes rigidity in the muscle groups or stiffening of the body
after death due to the disappearances of Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) from the
muscle.
 Rigor mortis disappears with decomposition
 Cool and/or freezing will delay the onset of rigor mortis as well as prolong its
presence.
 Involves all muscles the same time at the same rate. It appears first in the
smaller muscles such as the jaw and then gradually spread to upper and
lower extremities
 Instantaneous rigidity can also be found following ingestion of cyanide and
strychnine poison.
  5. Livor Mortis (Discoloration of the body; setting of blood in the dependent
regions following death)
 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. It is a
reddish purple to purple coloration in dependent areas of the body due to
accumulation of blood in the small vessels of the dependent areas secondary to
gravity. This pooling of blood begins immediately after death and becomes
fixed in approximately 8-12 hours. The investigator can press on the skin in
the dependent regions and if the skin blanches, death has probably occurred less
than 12 hours. This becomes fixed after a while and can tell if the body has
been moved. This is not a reliable indicator of time of death. This is a better
indicator of whether the body has been moved since death.
Types of Lividity
1. Hypostatic - Blood is still in fluid form inside blood vessel; Change as position of
the body change. Blood remains fluid in the blood vessel for 6-8 hours.

2. Diffusion - Coagulated inside blood vessel; Change in position will change its
location. (ibig sabihin medyo namumuo na sa loob ng ugat, naghiwa-hiwalay na
yung pwesto)
3. 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 may actually
be black. (like labi nagiging black)
4.
5. Decomposition is 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.
6. 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.
7. During life, these digestive enzymes only act on food in the stomach, but after
death will break down surrounding tissue.
8. The combined effects of putrefaction and autolysis cause the soft tissues of
the body to decompose and break down into a liquid state.
9. The rate of decomposition is dependent upon environmental conditions.
10. High heat and high humidity will increase the onset. Low temperatures and
low humidity retard the onset.
11.
12. Purge
13. As the body begins to transform into a liquid state and gases build within the
body, the gases force the fluid from the body.
14. 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.
15.
16. Mummification occurs when the body dries out faster than decomposition takes
place usually in hot, dry environments.