Forensic Tanatology - methodologies

Forensic Tanatology is a component of forensic medicine which is related to the phenomenon of death (the most loyal readers should know). This means that the study of the body is essential in this area. So the main technique used the autopsy.

The autopsy in forensic medicine aims to establish:

-Identification of the corpse;


- The mechanism of death;


- The cause of death;


We can assume that it is divided in two phases: external examination and internal examination.


External Examination:


In external examination the doctor examines traces such as ecchymosis, burns, cuts…

He concentrates mainly in the following regions: head, neck, chest, abdomen, back-lumbar region, perineal region and members.


It is at this stage that the technician faces the post-mortem phenomenons that depends on the state of the corpse. These can be divided into two major groups: abiotic and transformative. The abiotic are related to the most recent phenomenons in which there are no significant changes of the body. Examples: lack of movement, pupil dilation, cooling the body. Otherwise, transformatives, as the name suggests are precisely those in which the corpse is beginning to change. Here you can see three examples:

Three abiotic phenomenons:a rigid body, hypostases and mydriases.


Internal Examination:


The internal review includes opening the cranial box, of the chest cavity, the abdominal cavity or operation of any other body segment that is important for the clarification of the objectives of the autopsy.



These procedures aim at the direct observation of organs and systems so that the doctor can registe their morphological changes, pathological or traumatic, which are often removed to be seen individually.


It may be necessary to collect fluids of the body or viscera and their contents for additional tests.


Finally, the doctor put the organs in the body and closes the incision so that the corpse is delivered to the family (if there is this possibility).


Below is a video that shows this part of the autopsy. If the reader is a sensitive person we recommend not watch it.

Sometimes, the doctor uses other specialists for other tests, such as toxicology, histologic, biochemical….

Do not miss the next publication in which we are going to talk about the relation of forensic medicine with other areas and a bit of its history.

Written by: Vera Gonçalves

Translated by: Vera Gonçalves

Source: http://www.inml.mj.pt/