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The post-mortem interval (PMI) is the time that has elapsed since an individual's death. [1] When the time of death is not known, the interval may be estimated, and so an approximate time of death established. Postmortem interval estimations can range from hours, to days or even years depending on the type of evidence present. [2]
These changes can generally be divided between early post-mortem changes and late post-mortem changes (also known as decomposition). [12] These changes occur along a continuum and can be helpful in determining the post-mortem interval, which is the time between death and examination. The stages that follow shortly after death are:
Post-mortem intervals are estimated by determining the accumulated degree days (ADD) or accumulated degree hours (ADH) acquired by each insect stage on the remains; this information is then used to calculate the overall degree days or degree hours accumulated during the insect's entire life cycle and association with the carcass, representing ...
Knowing the different stages of decomposition can help investigators in determining the post-mortem interval (PMI). [2] The rate of decomposition of human remains can vary due to environmental factors and other factors. [3] Environmental factors include temperature, burning, humidity, and the availability of oxygen. [3]
Post-mortem diagnosis is the use of post-mortem chemistry analysis tests to diagnose a disease after someone has died. Some diseases are unknown until death, or were not correctly diagnosed earlier. One way that diseases can be diagnosed is by examining the concentrations of certain substances in the blood or other sample types.
H. van de Voorde and P. J. Van Dijck of the Catholic University of Leuven had the first noted use of recreating fungal growth to determine post-mortem interval in 1980. [4] In this, a woman, living alone, was found dead in a temperature-controlled house with stab wounds in her chest and fungal growth on her face and lower abdomen. [4]
Timeline of postmortem changes, with algor mortis represented by red temperature line. Algor mortis (from Latin algor 'coldness' and mortis 'of death'), the third stage of death, is the change in body temperature post mortem, until the ambient temperature is matched.
Forensic entomological decomposition is how insects decompose and what that means for timing and information in criminal investigations.Medicolegal entomology is a branch of forensic entomology that applies the study of insects to criminal investigations, and is commonly used in death investigations for estimating the post-mortem interval (PMI).