GAPAN CITY COLLEGE

City Hall Compound, Bayanihan, Gapan City,

Nueva Ecija, Philippines 3105
Department of Criminal Justice
Education

MODULE 7 IN
SPECIALIZED CRIME INVESTIGATION 1 WITH LEGAL MEDICINE

ASPHYXIA
- It is a Greek word literal meaning “ pulselessness or absence of pulse”
- It is a condition caused by interference with respiration, or due to lack of oxygen in respired air,
due to which the organs and tissues are deprived of oxygen ( together with failure to to eliminate
carbon dioxide) causing unconciousness or death.

Asphyxial Deaths:
• HANGING
• STRANGULATION
• THROTTLING
• SUFFOCATION
• DROWNING

1. ASPHYXIA BY HANGING
-A ligature device such as a rope is tied around the neck in a snug fit and the person lets his own
weight apply the suffocating force
.
NOTE: Hanging is almost always suicidal.

Death may come by any 4 means:

a. Occlusion of the carotids and vertebral arteries
b. The base of the tongue is pressed to the back and upwards inside the neck occluding the
nasopharynx
c. Direct laryngeal or tracheal damage and occlusion
d. Cervical fracture (“drop” hanging) causing brainstem injury.
Ligature Mark in Hanging OR Strangulation

Facial edema

Petechial hemorrhages
• Petechial hemorrhage is a tiny pinpoint red mark that is an important sign of asphyxia caused
by the external obstruction of the airways.
• Indicates a death by manual strangulation, hanging or smothering.
• The hemorrhages occur when blood leaks from the tiny capillaries in the eyes, which can
rupture due to increased pressure on the veins in the head when the airways are obstructed.
CYANOSIS
-it is the change of body tissue color to a bluish purple , as a result of decrease in the amount of
oxygen bound to the hemoglobin in the red blood cells of the capillary bed.
-Cyanosis evident especially at dependent portions of the body (fingers, lips, and if still hanging,
the hands and feet)

2. ASPHYXIA BY STRANGULATION
- Applying direct force to a ligature device tightened around the neck to suffocate the victim or
self
Difference with hanging:
- it is not the body’s own weight that is applying the suffocating force but the perpetrator himself
using a ligature device like a rope
 ➢ Death comes by a combination of ischemia by compression of the carotids, and
obstruction of the trachea
➢ More marked signs of congestion than hanging because the compressive force is not
usually enough to occlude the vertebral arteries allowing more arterial inflow
➢ The perpetrator usually lets go when the body goes limp, leaving less indented ligature
marks
➢ The ligature marks do not slant upward
➢ If device used is soft like a scarf, ligature mark may not be evident

3. ASPHYXIA BY THROTTLING
- Application of compressive force around the neck using bare hands
- The main mechanism of killing is more of the occlussion of the carotids.
4. ASPHYXIA BY SUFFOCATION
Suffocation is a type of mechanical asphyxia caused:
➢ Either due to lack of oxygen in the environment or
➢ By mechanical obstruction to the air passage by means other than constriction of neck and
drowning.
TYPES OF SUFFOCATION:
1. SMOTHERING – is the the deliberate occlusion of the external airways, usually using the
hands, pillows, or bedding . Victims are often those who are unable to resist, such as the young
or the old. The limited resistance offered by this individuals may result in a comparative lack of
injury.
2. GAGGING – is a form of asphyxia which results from forcing a gag such as rolled up cloth,
paper etc. deep into the mouth or oropharynx.
3. OVERLYING – also called compression suffocation. It results when mother or other person
sharing a bed with infant. During sleep, the mother or person may compress the infant by
overlying over it. Death occurs due to compression of chest and these deaths are accidental in
nature.
4. CHOKING – this is due to blockage of the internal air passages, usually by foreign material.
e. g. inhaled vomit, blood, food particles – especially fruit seeds in children, the tongue in
comatose patients etc..
5. BURKING – is a form of mechanical asphyxia where death is caused by a combination of
smothering and traumatic asphyxia.
-The victim is put on the ground and the assailants is to sit on chest and closes the mouth.
- It was named after criminals named Burke and Hare during 1820’s.
6. INHALATION OF IRRESPIRABLE GASES like carbon monoxide
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - occurs when carbon monoxide builds up in the blood. When too
much carbon monoxide is in the air, the body replaces the oxygen in the red blood cells with
carbon monoxide. This can lead to serious tissue damage or even death.
COLOR OF LIVIDITY- Cherry Red
5. ASPHYXIA BY DROWNING
• DROWNING – is a form of asphyxial death due to aspiration of fluid into the air passages by
submersion of the body in water or fluid medium.
• Complete submersion not necessary, submersion of nose and mouth is enough.
PHASES OF DROWNING BEFORE DEATH:
Breath-holding Involuntary inspiration Gasping of air Loss of consciousness Death

DETERMINATION WHETHER THE DROWNING IS SUICIDAL, HOMICIDAL OR

ACCIDENTAL
A. Suicidal
➢ Heavy articles or weight may be found in the pocket of clothings
➢ Presence of suicidal note
➢ Strong reason to commit suicide
➢ Mentality of the person
➢ Previous attempts of suicide

B. Homicidal
➢ Evidences of struggle
➢ Articles belonging to the assailant
➢ Presence of motive for the killing
➢ Presence of ligature on the hands or legs
➢ Presence of physical injuries which could not be self inflicted
➢ Testimony of witnesses

C. Accidental
➢ Absence of mark of violence
➢ Condition and the situation of the victim before death
➢ Exclusion of homicidal or suicidal nature of drowning
➢ Testimony of witnesses

REFERENCES:
Legal Medicine; Pedro P. Solis, 1987
https://www.academia.edu/40176986/SPECIAL_CRIME_INVESTIGATION_NOTES
PREPARED BY:
Billy Andrei M. Santiago, RCrim
INSTRUCTOR