UNDERSTANDING DEATH

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UNDERSTANDING DEATH
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Objective
ACTION Identify the variances of the 3 stages
of death. CONDITIONS Given the lecture and
class notes. STANDARD Identification will
include the variances of the 3 stages and the 8
signs of death.
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A Definition of Death
Death is the total cessation or extinction
of life as manifested by the absence of heartbeat
and respiration. The absence of metabolism and
the total lack of irritability characterize it.
It is the cessation of all vital functions
without capability of resuscitation.
Biologically, the death of any living organism is
viewed as the inevitable and critical moment
when an organism ceases to function as a
specific, unified, homeostatic system and becomes
disorganized into a mere collection of chemical
substance.
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Somatic Death
SOMATIC DEATH The death of an organism as a
whole its complete loss of ability to function
as an organized creature. It is death beginning
with of the three vital organs sometimes called
the
Tripod of Life.
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Somatic Death - Cont
Tripod of Life
LIFE

HEART
LUNGS
BRAIN
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Three (3) Stages of Somatic Death

• Clinical Death
• Biological or Irrevocable Death
• Cellular Death

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Clinical Death

• Clinical Death
• Sometimes referred to as LEGAL DEATH
• Marked by cessation of cardiac and respiratory
  activity.
• The period of clinical death is very brief,
  lasting not more than five or six minutes.

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Biological or Irrevocable Death

• BIOLOGICAL or IRREVOCABLE DEATH
• All tissues and organs have undergone
  irreversible changes
• Restoration of life is impossible.
• Highly specialized cells are dead and the more
  resistant cells are dying
• The muscles will still respond to clinical or
  electrical stimulation.

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Cellular Death

• CELLULAR DEATH
• The final cause of death is oxygen starvation
  of the tissue cells when blood ceases to
  circulate.
• One to four hours elapses between the onset of
  somatic death and the death of the individual
  cells.
• The more highly organized cells and tissues die
  most rapidly.

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Signs of Death

• After somatic death certain changes in body
  appearance, composition, and reaction occur.
• These signs are collectively labeled as Post
  Mortem changes.
• Signs by which we may recognize its presence in
  the body.
• The signs include any unusual appearances of
  the body which denote that life is extinct.

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Signs of Death (cont)

• The only single reliable sign of death is
  general putrefaction.
• All other signs must be observed in a
  combination of two or more to establish the
  certainty of death.
• There are eight (8) commonly observed signs of
  death

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Signs of Death (Cont)

• Cessation of respiration and circulation -
  Breathing and blood circulation may become slow
  and shallow.
• Algor Mortis - The Post Mortem adjustment of
  body temperature to that of the surrounding
  medium.
• Rigor Mortis - (cadaveric rigidity) The
  temporary stiffening of the voluntary and
  involuntary muscles as the result of chemical
  changes in the dead body.
• Changes in the Eye The most apparent are the
  sinking and flattening of the eyeball.

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Signs of Death (Cont)

• Dehydration As water evaporates from the skin
  and the fatty tissue immediately beneath it, the
  skin loses its elasticity and may be wrinkled.
• Saponification The conversion of the fatty
  tissue of the body into a soapy, waxy substance
  called adipocere or graves wax.
• Mummification This is the complete
  mummification of the body. It occurs when the
  body is kept in a very dry atmosphere at a
  temperature that is consistently above or below
  that favorable for bacterial growth.

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Signs of Death (Cont)

• Decomposition The final Post Mortem change is
  decomposition. This is a reduction of the
  complex body substances and structures to their
  component elements.

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Rumors and Death
"RUMORS"
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Rumors and Death
What rumors have you heard? ????
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Death a pictorial display
Warning!!! You are about to view pictures of
various stages of death. Some are very graphic
and contain nudity . If you think you are unable
to view the photos or become very uncomfortable
Please notify your instructor now! Are there
any questions before we begin
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Death a pictorial display
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Death a pictorial display
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Death a pictorial display
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Death a pictorial display
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Death a pictorial display
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Death a pictorial display
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Death a pictorial display
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Death a pictorial display
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Death a pictorial display
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Death a pictorial display
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Death a pictorial display
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Death a pictorial display
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Death a pictorial display
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Death a pictorial display
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Death a pictorial display
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Questions???
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Check on Learning
Question 1 Name one of the three stages of
death.
Answer 1- Clinical Death. 2 Biological or
Irrevocable Death. 3 Cellular Death.
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Check on Learning
Question 2 What are the three areas of the
Tripod of Life?
Answer The Heart, Brain, and Lungs
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Summary
a. Definition of death 
b. Somatic death 
c. 3 Stages of Somatic death
d. Signs of death
e. Rumors and Death
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Check on Learning
Question What is Rigor Mortis?
Answer The temporary stiffening of the voluntary
and involuntary muscles as the result of chemical
changes in the dead body.
Question Define decomposition?
Answer The final Post Mortem change is
decomposition. This is a reduction of the
complex body substances and structures to their
component elements.