Mechanical Asphyxia

Lecture Plan
 Strangulation
 Types
 Throttling & Ligature strangulation
 Differences between hanging and
strangulation
 Medico-legal aspects
 Garroting
 Strangulation
 It refers to the
application of external
pressure on the neck
 either by bare hands
or
 by a ligature or any
other material
 Strangulation
 The body is not
suspended in
strangulation
 Strangulation by
ligature is called
ligature strangulation
 Strangulation using
bare hands is called
manual strangulation
or throttling
 Manual Strangulation
 Stimulation of carotid
structures may rarely
result in sudden
cardiac arrest.
 Marks left by the
assailants hands as
well as the victim’s
may be present.
 Manual Strangulation
 Autopsy findings
 Signs of asphyxia
 Skin contusions and
abrasions
 Infiltration of blood
 Manual strangulation - A case
 External injuries
 Asphyxial signs
 Neck findings

HANGING STRANGULATION
 Manual Strangulation
Medico-legal aspects
 All cases are homicidal
 Suicidal manual strangulation is impossible
 Ligature Strangulation
 Ligature material
 Asphyxial signs
 Ligature Strangulation
 The ligature mark
 Transverse
 Complete
 Often over the thyroid
cartilage or below it
 Scratch marks may be
present
 Ligature Strangulation
 Neck findings
 Infiltration of blood
under the ligature
mark
 Injury to neck
structures
 Hyoid adduction
fracture
 Thyroid cartilage
fractures
 Ligature Strangulation
 Neck findings
 Infiltration of blood
under the ligature
mark
 Injury to neck
structures
 Hyoid adduction
fracture
 Thyroid cartilage
fractures
 Ligature Strangulation
 Neck findings
 Infiltration of blood
under the ligature
mark
 Injury to neck
structures
 Hyoid adduction
fracture
 Thyroid cartilage
fractures
 Tongue may show
contusions
 Pseudoligature
 Objects pressing
against the neck
 Skin fold
 Ligature Strangulation
 Medico-legal Aspects
 Usually homicidal
 Suicidal strangulation
 Ligature Strangulation
 Medico-legal Aspects
 Usually homicidal
 Suicidal strangulation
 Accidental
strangulation
 Hanging Strangulation
Ligature mark Oblique, above thyroid, Transverse, at or below
incomplete thyroid, complete

Neck structures Pale Contusion of neck

muscles

Signs of asphyxia Less prominent in Prominent

complete hanging

Salivary dribbling Present Absent

Hyoid fracture Abduction type Adduction type

Evidence of
Less common More common
bleeding from
orifices
There is another type of hyoid fracture – avulsion fracture
 Garroting
 A method of judicial
execution
 Windlass method
 A rope is tightened
around neck by
twisting
 The tightening
provides continuous
pressure
 Metal Garrotte
 Portions covered
 Strangulation
 Types
 Throttling & Ligature strangulation
 Differences between hanging and
strangulation
 Medico-legal aspects
 Garroting