HASPI Medical Anatomy & Physiology 02c
Lab Activity
Name(s): ________________________
Period: _________ Date: ___________
The following outlines the standard procedure and protocol
for an autopsy performed by a medical examiner or coroner.
Step 1. Preliminary Procedures
Details are crucial to an autopsy! Anyone who will be reading
the autopsy report will need to be able to follow these details
step-by-step. This starts with identification of the victim (if
known), case number, as well as the location, date, time, and
reason for the autopsy. Any other special considerations also
need to be recorded.
Step 2. Summary of Known Circumstances
http://www.pathguy.com/lectures/autopsy_6_11_07_1.jpg
This is a short summary of the known facts about the victim. This most often includes the victim’s
sex, race, and age. If known, it will also include a description of the circumstances in which the body
was found. Any additional information on the victim’s plans or activities before or after death will also
be included.
Step 3. Review Documents and Examine Evidence
Any reports created during the police investigation should be reviewed before autopsy. This allows
for the medical examiner to have an idea of what he or she may be looking to find. In some cases,
the type and shape of a weapon are crucial details in determining if any of the injuries found on the
victim may be connected to any weapons found at the scene.
Step 4. External Examination of the Body
It is important to note any and all external details before disturbing the victim. Simple notes like the
condition, state, or position of an item of clothing may be the detail needed by investigators to piece
together a crime scene. Photographs are normally taken of the victim during this phase of the
autopsy. In general, an autopsy report will want the following details for the external examination:
• Body height, weight, and hair color
• Any clothing, valuables, or jewelry located on the body
• Presence of rigor, livor, or algor mortis (rigor mortis is the stiffening of muscles post-mortem,
livor mortis is any discoloration caused by blood settling due to gravity, and algor mortis is heat
loss from the body post-mortem)
• General body condition
• External body details, scars, incisions, or punctures
Step 5. Victim Identification
In some cases, the victim’s identity is unknown and steps must be taken to find their identity.
Identification is also necessary if a victim’s identity is probable but not certain due to facial distortion.
This may include the following:
• Identifying clothing
• Dental exam
• Fingerprints
• X-rays
• Identification of any external markings (tattoos, scars, piercings, etc.)
85
Step 6. Internal Examination of the Body
A Y-shaped incision is made on the thoracic and abdominal region of the victim.
If necessary, the skull is also opened, and the brain is removed. An evaluation
and description of all body organs is made with any injuries or abnormalities
noted. In addition, every solid organ is removed and weighed for comparison.
The autopsy report contains a list of organs that are evaluated.
Step 7. General Description of the Body Organs
It is just as important to describe normal condition of the body organs as it is to
describe abnormal. For this reason, a comparison of the victim’s organs to
normal conditions is important. This can be dependent on average height and
weight of the victim. Any abnormal organ conditions may require tissue
collection, and possibly microscopic examination.
Step 8. Specific Description of Wounds or Injuries
Any abnormal conditions, injuries, or wounds found either externally or internally
need to be evaluated and detailed. A connection between the type of injury or wound to a weapon or
cause of death is also hypothesized at this step. Common causes of death that are determined
during autopsy include:
• Blunt force trauma (car accident, bat, hit with fist, etc.)
• Rifle or handgun (often a single entry wound)
• Shotgun (many small entry wounds)
• Penetrating or cutting trauma (knife, axe, etc.)
• Asphyxiation (hanging, strangling, or drowning)
• Burning (fire, electrocution, or lightning)
• Child abuse (infant death or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
Step 9. Establish Evidential Chain-of-Custody
If it is possible that the victim’s death was caused by another person, the autopsy report and any
evidence discovered will need to be turned over to the police. If it is determined that the cause of
death was accidental or caused by a suicide, the autopsy report is handed over to a coroner. In
either case, a chain of custody for the autopsy evidence between the medical examiner’s office and
either the police or coroner must be established.
Step 10. Record of Specimens Retained and Examinations Performed
Following the physical autopsy examination, it may be necessary to submit evidence specimens,
tissue, or body fluid samples for examination. These may require microscopic or toxicological
examination by an additional agency. The medical examiner or coroner will compare the results to
the findings of the physical autopsy examination. This will allow for further confirmation or to identify
possible issues with the hypothesized cause of death.
Note on Negative Findings
It is common for an autopsy report to contain more negative findings of conditions that are not
present, than abnormal conditions that are present. These statements within the autopsy report are
just as important as any abnormal findings reported, so it is important not to overlook these within the
autopsy report.
Indiana Government Services. 2012. Part 5 Autopsy Procedure. http://www.in.gov/ctb/files/section501.pdf, Section 502,
pp. 140-151.
86
Fetal pig
Dissecting tray
Ruler
Weighing dish
Scalpel
Forceps
Scale
Paper towels
Gloves
Sutures
Scenario
Your team is part of the HASPI Medical Examiner’s office. A body has been found in
the small town of Uli City. The body was found in suspicious circumstances and has
been brought to you for autopsy. The following police report came in with the body.
POLICE REPORT
Responding Officer Jermaine Shepherd
Case # 451-22-0142
Date of Birth 1/2/12
Date/Time 1/2/13, 3:54 am
Victim Piper Piglet
Date of Death 1/2/13
Location Babe Pond, Uli City
Species: Pig
Narrative:
At 3:31 am on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
a body was found in Babe Pond. The body
was later identified as Piper Piglet by
the victim’s mother, Paula Piglet. The
mother stated that Piper had disappeared
from their backyard at 6:30 pm on
Tuesday, January 1. The victim’s house
is located approximately 0.4 km south of
Babe Pond and the backyard is unfenced.
The body was found enclosed in a green
plastic trash bag tied closed with twine.
The front legs of the victim had pierced
http://screamingsushi.com/blog3/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/dead_pig.JPG
the bag (see crime scene photos). Kat
Kitten was at the pond late catching frogs and noticed the legs protruding
from the bag. Kat immediately called the police.
After further interview of the mother, she did not report her child as
missing because Piper had the tendency to wander off. She only noticed he
was missing when he did not show up for dinner. No witnesses observed
Piper in the backyard or near Babe Pond.
An autopsy has been requested due to the suspicious nature that the body
was found.
Evidence Collected:
Green plastic bag
Black twine
Two cigarettes
Water from pond
87
✔when complete
Part 1. Preliminary Procedures
Step 1 Read the scenario and police report.
Step 2 Complete Part 1 of the Autopsy Report with information from the police report.
Part 2. Summary of Known Circumstances
Step 1 Read the scenario and police report.
Complete Part 2 of the Autopsy Report with information from the police report.
Step 2
You will need to check the body to determine the sex.
Part 3. Review Documents & Examine Evidence
Step 1 Complete Part 3 of the Autopsy Report with information from the police report.
Step 2 Note any evidence that may help determine the cause of death.
Part 4. External Examination of the Body
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Put on gloves and use a scale to weigh the body. Record the weight in grams in
Part 4 of the Autopsy Report.
Use the ruler to measure in cm the length from the tip of the tail to the snout.
Use the ruler to measure in cm the circumference of the abdomen.
Describe and record the color of the skin and hair.
Describe and record any identifying features, such as spots, hair location, etc.
Make note of any other abnormal features on the external anatomy of the body.
This may include scars, incisions, puncture wounds, discoloration, marks, etc.
Part 5. Victim Identification
Step 1 The victim has already been identified and therefore this is not required.
Part 6. Internal Examination of the Body
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 9
Step 10
Step 11
Step 12
Step 13
Step 14
Step 15
88
Place the body on its back with the ventral surface
facing up in the dissecting tray.
Using the scalpel, make a Y-shaped incision from
the shoulders down to the umbilical cord. The
incision will need to go around the umbilical cord
and down the sides to expose the abdomen.
See the diagram for an example.
Use the scalpel or scissors to remove the rib cage
and expose the lungs and heart.
Use the “Fetal Pig” diagram and/or website on the
next page to identify the major organs that will need
to be removed for examination.
Start by removing the lungs and place them in the
weighing dish. Weigh and measure the length of the
lungs. Record in Part 6 of the Autopsy Report.
http://www.biologycorner.com/resources/pig_incision2.gif
Place the lungs on a paper towel. It may help to
label the paper towel so you can keep track of each organ.
Remove, weigh, and measure the heart. Place it on the paper towel.
Remove, weigh, and measure the liver. Place it on the paper towel.
Remove, weigh, and measure the gall bladder. Place it on the paper towel.
Remove, weigh, and measure the stomach. Place it on the paper towel.
Remove, weigh, and measure the pancreas. Place it on the paper towel.
Remove, weigh, and measure the spleen. Place it on the paper towel.
Remove, weigh, and measure the small intestine. Place it on the paper towel.
Remove, weigh, and measure the large intestine. Place it on the paper towel.
Remove, weigh, and measure the kidneys. Place them on the paper towel.
Fetal Pig Diagram
Go to the following website for a virtual fetal pig dissection with labeled images that can be used to
assist during your autopsy procedure, if needed. Also consult the “Organ Description and Location”
list on the next page.
http://www.whitman.edu/content/virtualpig
http://voyager.dvc.edu/~nmiller/biosc139/fetal_pig/fetalpig_diag02a1.jpg
89
Organ Description and Location
Heart – located between the folds of the lungs. Must be cut free from the aorta and vena cava.
Lungs – located in the chest cavity surrounding the heart. There will be a few lobes that must be
cut free from the trachea and heart.
Liver – located at the top of the abdominal cavity. It will be the largest organ and attaches at the
back of the abdominal cavity.
Pancreas – located under the stomach between the liver and intestines.
Spleen – small organ located behind the stomach.
Kidneys – shaped like kidney beans and located under the intestines. Will be visible when the
intestines are removed.
Small Intestine – located in the lower abdomen and held together with a thin tissue called
mesentery. Will need to be cut free from the stomach and the large intestine.
Large Intestine – located in the lower abdomen. Much shorter and thicker than the small
intestine. Will need to be cut free from the small intestine and rectum.
Stomach – located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen next to the liver. Will need to be cut
from the esophagus and duodenum.
Gallbladder – located directly under, and sometimes attached to, the liver. Very small organ that
is often greenish in color.
Part 7. General Description of the Body Organs
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Look at each organ and describe how each organ looks in Part 7 of the Autopsy
Report.
Use the scalpel or scissors to open the stomach, small intestine, large intestine,
and gallbladder. Describe the contents of each organ in Part 7.
If needed, the brain would also be removed, weighed, and described. This step is
not required for this autopsy procedure.
Return all organs to the chest and abdominal cavity. Organs do not have to be
returned to the correct locations.
Use the sutures to close the incisions and prepare the body for funeral and burial.
Part 8. Specific Description of Wounds or Injuries
Make a note of any wounds, injuries, or abnormal findings that were found during
the external and internal autopsy.
Hypothesize how any abnormal findings (or lack of abnormal findings) could lead
Step 2 to death. In other words, what could have caused the death of your victim?
Explain your theory in Part 8 of the Autopsy Report.
Step 1
Part 9. Establish Evidential Chain-of-Custody
According to your hypothesis on cause of death, do you think this was an
Step 1 accidental death or a homicide? Explain your theory in Part 9 of the Autopsy
Report.
Part 10. Record of Specimens Retained and Examinations Performed
Step 1
90
Summarize the organs you examined and the procedures that were used in this
autopsy. Include any abnormal findings that would lead to a cause of death.
The Autopsy Report
Complete the following report as you conduct the autopsy on your victim. All necessary information
can be found in the scenario, police report, or from the victim’s body during autopsy.
Part 1. Background Information
Office of the Medical Examiner
HASPI, District 1234
Healthcare County
4321 Dissection Road, Uli City, CA 12121
MEDICAL EXAMINER REPORT
Victim Name: _______________________
Case #: __________
Medical Examiner(s): _________________________
Date of Birth: ___________
Race/Species: ________________
Date of Death: ___________
Sex: ________
Age: _______
Date/Time of Exam:___________________
Reason for Autopsy: ________________________________________________________________
Part 2. Known Facts
How and where was the body found?
Additional information:
Part 3. Review of Police Report and Evidence
Information from police report:
Information from the evidence:
91
Part 4. External Characteristics
Body Weight: _____________g
Body Length: ___________cm
Circumference: __________cm
Color (skin, hair):___________________________________________________________________
Identifying features (spots, hair location, etc.): ____________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Any additional external features of note:
Part 5. Victim Identification
How was the identification of the victim confirmed?
Parts 6 and 7. Internal Examination and Description
Organ
Weight
(g)
Length
(cm)
Weight
(g)
Length
(cm)
Description
Heart
Lungs
Liver
Pancreas
Spleen
Kidneys
Organ
Small intestine
Large intestine
Stomach
Gall bladder
92
Description
Internal Contents
Part 8. Wounds or Injuries
What wounds, injuries, or abnormal findings could lead to a cause of death?
Hypothesize the possible cause of death.
Part 9. Cause of Death
Was this death accidental or a homicide? Explain your hypothesis.
Note: There is no right or wrong answer on this. It is only your best hypothesis with the evidence that
you have observed and collected.
Part 10. Specimens and Examination
Summarize the organs you examined and the procedures used in this autopsy.
93
94