Forensic Medicine

2. EXAMINATION OF VERTEBRAL
COLUMN AND SPINAL CORD.
 Examination of vertebral column and spinal cord is
done by two approaches.
1: Anterior approach
2: Posterior approach

3. ANTERIOR APPROACH
1. Remove all the organs of abdomen and thorax.
2. Cut the vertebral bodies, this will expose the
Spinal cord.
3. Cut should be made in such a manner that saw
separate the vertebral bodies into an anterior
One third and posterior two third.
This will not destroy the rigidity of the vertebral
column.

4. POSTERIOR APPROACH
 It is easier and better
1. Give a posterior incision in skin extending from base
of head to the sacrum.
2. Separate the tissues on each side of spinous process.
3. The lamina are sawn through with a saw as
close to spinous process as possible.

5. 4. Remove the spinal process and lamina,
this will expose spinal dura.
5. Dura is opened by the help of a scissor.
6. Cut surface is examined.
7. Spinal cord is removed and examined.

6. CLOSING OF BODY
 After complete dissection study put all viscera in to the
trunk. Body is closed properly, suturing along the
incision using curved needle.
 Clean the body, dress it properly and in appealing way.
 Try meticulous restoration of normal anatomy, pay
special attention to face.
 Always hand over the body to the concerned police
officer who brought it for autopsy after getting written
receipt.

7. COLLECTION OF SPECIMEN
 The collection of specimen are needed for further examination
i.e
1. Histology or histopathological examination.
2. Toxicological analysis.
3. Biochemistry.
 These specimens are taken from
1. Body fluids.
2. Body organs.
3. Trace evidence[anything on the body of deceased which can give a
clue to cause of death.
 Because according to the “Locard’s Exchange Principal”.
 Every contact leaves a trace.

8. SPECIMENS COLLECTED FOR
SUSPECTED CASE OF POISONING
 Hair 10 gm
 Brain 500 gm
 Liver 500 gm
 Kidney one whole
 Lung one whole
 Stomach whole with contents
 Small intestine initial 2 feet with contents
 Blood 50-100 cc
 Urine all available

9. CHOICE OF SPECIMEN
 Brain alcohol, barbiturates
 liver metal, barbiturates
 kidney heavy metal especial mercury
 bone lead and arsenic
 blood all gaseous poisons
 urine heavy metal, barbiturates

10. Routine specimens
 Certain substances are necessary to collect in every
examination especially for toxicological examination.
These are known as “Routine specimens”. These are
collected in bottles which are numbered in a sequence and
contain specific contents.
 Bottle. 1 Stomach & its contents.
 Bottle.2  Small intestine & its pieces of large intestine
with intestinal contents.
 Bottle.3  Portion of liver, one kidney & spleen.
 Bottle.4  Control specimen of preservative substance
which has been used for preservation of these materials.

11. PRESERVATION FOR TOXICOLOGY
RECTIFIED SPIRIT,
 It is effective preservative of all viscerae which
are likely to be decomposed on keeping.
 It is contraindicated in poisoning by alcohol , phosphorus, acetic
acid and carbolic acid.
SUPERSATURATED SALINE/ SOLUTION OF SODIUM
CHLORIDE.
 Good preservative AND routinely used.
 Solution should be supersaturated up to 33 percent of sodium
chloride.
 For detection of gases poison in blood e.g CO no preservative is
used.

12. FIXATIVES FOR HISTOPATHOLOGY
 FORMALINE:
1. General purpose fixative.
2. It is prepared by mixing one volume of commercial
formalin and 9 volumes of water.
 ETHYL ALCOHOL(absolute or 95% alcohol)
 Used for special purpose , for fixation of tissues.

13. PLACING AND SEALING OF
SPECIMEN
 Sealed in wide and narrow mouthed glass bottles with
glass stoppers.
 2.Each specimen should be placed in separate clean
glass vessels.
 viscerae should be weighed before taking specimen.

14.  3.Label each glass vessel with all information required
to identify specimen fully and completely.
 4.Wrape each bottle/ container in heavy paper, tie
with cord, seal the top, bottom, free edges and knot,
with sealing wax.

15. Chain of Custody
 “It is the sequence of events from the collection of
specimens at the scene of crime to its presentation in
court.

16. Principle
 Any person who handles these specimens should be
and must be able to certify extent of handling.
 “Shorter the chain the better it is.”

17. Duty of doctor
 It is the duty of medical officer that he should
maintain an unbroken chain of custody and he should
be able to certify before court. So the dr should collect
the specimens himself, handle them himself, deal
them in his custody and then all the specimens are
handed over to avoid any unnecessary lengthening of
chain.

18. Doctor should be able to tell
 1. When received?
 2. How long it is with you? When sent it back?
 3. What was collected?
 4. Why was collected?
 5. To whom it was handed over?
 6. Why it was handed over?
 7. When it was handed over?

19.  After autopsy specimens are
collected & handed over to
police by the doctor under
stamp & seal, entries are
made in the police register ,
and police hands it over to
the assistant of chemical
examiner who makes entry in
his register. Then specimens
& report of the chemical
examiner is sent to the
doctor. The doctor again
hands it over to the police to
be presented in the court.
Doctor

Police

Chemical examiner

Doctor

Police

Court

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 Thank You