FFT 1093

ANIMAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

ASSIGNMENT II
THE IMPORTANCE OF POST-MORTEM EXAMINATION
Name of the student: HENG CHUI LING
Matric number: F14A0082
Program: SBH 1B
Lecturer: DR. NWE NEW HTIN
Submission date: 30/04/2015
FACULTY OF AGRO BASED INDUSTRY
UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA KELANTAN

Title:
The importance of post-mortem examination

Introduction:
Post-mortem examination or necropsy is a systematic examination of a cadaver
for study or for determining the cause of death. Post-mortems use many methodical
procedures to determine the etiology and pathogenesis of diseases, for epidemiologic
purposes, for establishment of genetic causes, and for family counsel. Post-mortems
may be performed at the request of the authorities in cases of unexplained and
suspicious death or where death was not attended by a physician.
Necropsy is a highly specialized surgical procedure that consists of a thorough
examination of a corpse to determine the cause and manner of death and to evaluate
any disease or injury that may be present. It is usually performed by a specialized
medical doctor called a pathologist. Modern diagnostic tests may provide a lot of

information but they do not provide all the answers, but the post mortem examination
able.
Necropsies are performed for either legal or medical purposes. For example, a
forensic autopsy is carried out when the cause of death may be a criminal matter,
while a clinical or academic autopsy is performed to find the medical cause of death
and is used in cases of unknown or uncertain death, or for research purposes.
In other circumstances, post-mortem examination may be performed only with
the consent of the deceased's family or with permission granted by the person himself
before death. These examinations are more frequently being used for the acquiring of
organs and tissues for transplantation. Valuable medical information can be learned
from a post-mortem examination. Legionnaire's disease, for example, was discovered
as a result of autopsies, and improved safety standards have resulted from the
examination of the bodies of crash victims.
Autopsies can be further classified into cases where external examination
suffices, and those where the body is dissected and internal examination is conducted.
Permission from next of kin may be required for internal autopsy in some cases. Once
an internal autopsy is complete the body is reconstituted by sewing it back together.

Objectives:
1.

To study the importance of post-mortem examination.

2.

To relate the knowledge of animal anatomy and physiology with the process of
post-mortem examination.

3.

To identify the causes of animal death.

4.

To determine the benefits of post-mortem examination.

Materials:
1. Four or five large butcher knives and sharpening steel or other sharpening device
2. Several robust meat hooks
3. A large saw, suitable for sectioning some of the massive bones
4. A large axe
5. A shovel
7. A block and tackle where possible

8. A wheelbarrow
9. Adequate water
10. Large PVC tray/containers and cutting boards
11. Thick ropes or chains
12. A portable gantry, where possible
13. A metal detector to locate bullets in poached animals.

Procedures:
A. Identification and History of Dead Animal
1.
2.

3.

The history of the animal was identified and circumstances of death were
confirmed.
Historical information that was recorded should include:
a. Origin (captive born or wild caught)
b. Age (how long it had lived)
c. Husbandry (diet, housing, cage-mates)
d. Reproductive activity
e. Previous medical problems (any medical treatment)
f. Current medical problems and treatments (cancer or diseases)
Information related to death was recorded, such as:
a. The date of the animal was dead
b. The condition of the body (refrigerated or frozen)
c. The animals behavioral observations (how was it acting just before death,
inactive or handicapped)
d. Clinical observations (was it lethargic, regurgitating, had diarrhea or cancer)
e. The possible contributing factors

B. External Examination
1.
2.
3.

A set of clean, dry and sterile necropsy instruments was prepared.

An animal was placed in dorsal recumbency on a sterilized dissection table.
The body of the animal was weighed and external features are examined for any

4.

5.

6.

7.

abnormalities. The skin was examined anteriorly and posteriorly for bruising,
bleeding, ulcerations, burns, lumps, scars, retained shed, outer parasites and other
special conditions were noted down.
Sample of the external body surfaces was collected. Hair samples, fingernails,
gunshot residue (if present), fibers, paint chips or any other foreign objects found
on the surface of the body were collected and noted.
Other external features were examined include the nostrils, eyes, ears, oral cavity,
pharyngeal (throat) area, cloaca, reproductive appendages, scent glands and
others.
The musculoskeletal system was also examined to assess the body condition
(muscle mass) and palpated for any abnormalities such as soft bones or bone
fractures.
Diagnostic images and photographs of scars or lesions were taken.

C. Internal Examination
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.
7.
8.

9.

Any abnormality and diseased area in the organs or tissues was recorded and
photographed.
Small portions of tissue were taken from each organ to prepare microscopic
slides.
Samples of blood and other fluids were taken for biochemical, microbiological or
other special examinations (including metabolic and toxicology as required).
A midline incision from the tip of the jaw to just below the anus of the animal
was made.
The coelomic cavity was taken for evidence of free fluid, blood, or infection.
Blood should be aseptically drawn from the jugular vein of the living animal into
sterile test-tubes or bottles and closed with rubber stoppers.
Small portions of tissue (1-3 centimeters) are taken from each organ to prepare
microscopic slides.
Both normal-looking tissues and abnormal-looking tissues as well as the
appearing tissues were collected.
These tissues are placed in a 10% buffered formalin solution. The tissues were
chemically treated in order to create blocks and slides for viewing under a
microscope. The blocks (containing the tissue) are then thinly sliced by a special
instrument called a microtome. The shaved pieces are then mounted on slides and
stained in order to highlight the cells for examination under a microscope.
Tissue and fluid from the deceased animal were examined under the microscope
and by chemical analysis. There are some routinely test for drugs and poisons
(toxicology screens) in the spinal fluid, eye fluid (vitreous humor), blood, bile,
stomach contents, hair, skin, urine, and, in decomposing bodies, fluid from
blisters.

10. A large cut (called an incision) was made in the chest and abdomen.
11. The animals abdomen was opened for inspection of the internal organs.
12. Then the major organ systems are carefully removed, weighted and examined in
detail (dissected).
13. All organs are examined systematically.
14. The internal organs were examined include:
a) heart
g) spleen
m) adrenal glands
b) great vessels
h) pancreas
n) kidneys
c) lung
i) esophagus
o) gonads (testicles
d) thyroid gland
j) stomach
or ovaries)
e) liver
k) small intestine
f) gall bladder
l) large intestine
15. Organs were cut into in order to examine full thickness sections and the internal
portions of tubular organs such as trachea, lungs, heart, esophagus, stomach, and
the intestinal tract. The color, size, shape, and any abnormalities were noted.
16. An incision is made in the scalp so that the top of the skull can be opened and the
brain removed and examined.
17. Any diseased area as well as the color, size, shape, and any abnormalities were
noted for all tissues and organs and were photographed.
18. Cultures for bacteria or fungus were taken from organs that appear abnormal.
19. Fecal material was collected from the intestinal tract for parasite analysis or
culture.

D. Reconstitution of the Animal Body

1. The internal body cavity was lined with cotton wool or an appropriate material.
2. The organs were then placed into a plastic bag to prevent leakage and returned to
the body cavity.
3. The chest flaps were then closed and sewn back together and the skull cap was
sewed back in place (if got any).
4. The organs and tissues were then returned to the body and the incisions are
sutured (sewn up).

E. Summarization of the Findings

1. Results of other tests, such as culture and fecal analysis were taken into account.
2. The case of death was summarized and written into report.

Discussions:
During carrying out a standard post-mortem examination, it aims to find out the
causes or factors that contribute to the death of the animal. Hence, the procedures are
conducted strictly according to the laboratory rules and all of the precautious
methods. The entire experiment is supervised by a professional pathologist if possible
to avoid any accident and for easy reference during conducting the high difficulty
procedures and operating the machines or equipment.
At the beginning of the examination, history of the animal should be recorded.
When approaching the dead animal, note should be made whether the animal is in
sternal or lateral recumbency. The presence of vultures is frequently a good indicator
of the status of the animal in the field.
For the external examination section, the animal needs to be identified and the
sex recorded. The external sexing of calves may be difficult. As a guideline, the
distance between the umbilicus and the genital orifice should be measured. Where
possible, and particularly where litigation is a possibility, the carcass should be
photographed. At this stage an assessment of physical condition should also be made.
The depth of the lumbar depression and the protrusion of the adjoining dorso-lateral
ridge of the wing of the ilium afford a good overall condition-indicator (Albl, 1971).
The appearance of a distinct temporal fossa and buccal depression give further
indication of poor physical condition. A loose baggy pants appearance of the skin
over the hindquarters is also an indication of poor condition. Collect a faecal bolus
from the rectum. The presence of large, undigested portions of wood, fibre, fruit and
leaves may indicate difficulty in mastication due to abnormalities of the molars, old
age or abnormal diet. All the external openings should be examined. This includes the
temporal gland in the temporal depression. Excessive secretion from this gland is
usually a sign of stress, which may have resulted from fear, pain or disease. Death is
usually peracute to acute and the animal is therefore in good body condition. For this
reason it is always extremely important to collect a blood smear and examine this
before the carcass is skinned and opened. The carcass should be examined for any
penetration wounds (i.e. due to bullets or tusks).

In the healthy animal, the skin is supple and readily moved over the underlying
tissues. It is thick and in certain areas, hard excrescences or wart-like studs may be
detected. It is not always necessary to skin the entire animal, which is an arduous task,
but sufficient skin should be removed to facilitate entry into the body cavities.
Subcutaneous abscesses are frequently difficult to detect from the outside, because the
thickness of the skin forces the abscess to dissect laterally between the skin and the
muscle, and the absence of an easily detectable swelling may mask its presence. If a
perforating wound is visible, this is also a good reason to skin that specific area.
Examining superficial lymph nodes of the animal is necessary. The parotid,
mandibular and superficial cervical and prescapular lymph nodes are all in
approximately the same position as in other species.
Reflecting the upper fore- and hind-limb of the animal is carried out. It is not
always possible to reflect the upper fore- and hind-limb in mature animals, but this
can be achieved with the help of a vehicle or block and tackle, using ropes or chains.
Muscles can also be trimmed away from the bone to make the limb lighter. The limb
should be separated at the coxo-femoral or scapulo-humeral joints.
Then, opening the abdominal cavity is carried out. The incision should be a
vertical one between the last rib and the tuber coxae, straight down over the bulge of
the abdomen and down to the ground surface. The incision can then be extended
midventrally towards the sternum. The triangle of the abdominal wall and associated
skin flap can then be lifted allowing the organs to be examined in situ. With the aid of
meat hooks the abdominal organs can now be dissected, loosened and removed.
For human post-mortem examination, reconstitution of the body is usually
necessary. After the examination, the body has an open and empty chest cavity with
chest flaps open on both sides, the top of the skull is missing, and the skull flaps are
pulled over the face and neck. It is unusual to examine the face, arms, hands or legs
internally. In certain countries, following the Human Tissue Act all organs and tissue
must be returned to the body unless permission is given by the family to retain any
tissue for further investigation. Normally the internal body cavity is lined with cotton
wool or an appropriate material; the organs are then placed into a plastic bag to
prevent leakage and returned to the body cavity. The chest flaps are then closed and
sewn back together and the skull cap is sewed back in place. Then the body may be
wrapped in a shroud and it is common for relatives to not be able to tell the procedure
has been done when the body is viewed in a funeral parlor after embalming.
At the end of the examination, the pathologist needs to record all the obtained
data clearly and systematically. All specimens should be clearly numbered and
labelled. The field investigator should keep a personal record, on a checklist, of all
specimens taken, how they were labelled, preserved, to whom they were submitted,

and by what route. All relevant information should accompany the specimens. This
information may be recorded on the Post-mortem Record and Laboratory Specimen
Record forms. Photographs provide a useful record of the appearance of organs and
lesions, and can be an important aid to diagnosis.
Sometimes, preservation of specimens is required to keep the specimen fresh and
for easy reference in future. The method of preservation chosen will vary with the
type of investigation required and the time that must elapse before the investigation
can be made:
1. Refrigeration
Specimens refrigerated at approximately 4oC (38oF) will be preserved satisfactorily
for a short time. It may be packed in leakproof containers and surrounded by ice in
sealed cans or sealed plastic bags. Polystyrene boxes or large thermos flasks may also
be used to provide additional insulation.
2. Dry ice
Solid carbon dioxide is useful but has certain disadvantages. Some pathogens,
especially viruses, are partially or completely inactivated by CO2 vapour. The
specimens must therefore be completely sealed away from the refrigerant. Delay in
shipment resulting in complete evaporation of the CO2 block may be followed by a
drastic rise in temperature which could be much more detrimental to the survival of
many pathogenic organisms than would be a more gradual change in temperature.
The outer container, if dry ice is used as a refrigerant, must not be airtight, as there is
danger of an explosion if dry ice sublimates in an airtight box.
3. Deep-freeze
Freezing in a deep-freeze cabinet at a temperature of 20 oC is satisfactory for some
but not all pathological specimens. A deep-freeze will not be appropriate for
specimens destined for histology nor for such organisms as Vibrio foetus, Leptospira
spp., or Toxoplasma spp., all of which are damaged by freezing. Serum, however, is
well preserved by freezing. Whole blood should not be frozen.
4. Blood smears
Except when prepared for the examination of microfiliaria or trypanosomes, blood
smears should be thin. One should be able to read newsprint through them. In the
above instances, it is of some advantage to place the thick and thin smear on the same
slide. In all cases, the smears should be dried quickly, labelled with a diamond pencil
or grease pencil and wrapped or boxed to prevent damage by insects. Thin smears
may be fixed by dipping in methyl alcohol but thick smears should not be fixed.
Blood smears are best made from venous blood collected from a live animal but
useful smears can be made from blood collected from an animal which has recently
died. Peripheral capillary blood may be desirable for making smears for the detection
of microfilariae, which are often cyclical in their appearance in the peripheral blood.
After completing the postmortem examination, it helps identify the cause of
death (if this is not known, a coroners post mortem examination is required), to

confirm the nature of the illness and/or the extent of the disease, to identify other
conditions that may not have been diagnosed and to assess the effects of treatments
and drugs, and identify any complications or side-effects. However, even the most
detailed post mortem examination may leave some questions unanswered and does
not always find the cause of death.
The post-mortem examination brings benefits of providing information which
can help doctors treat other patients with the same kind of illness. It also facilitates in
assessing and improving the quality of medical care. It is very valuable for ongoing
medical training purposes. It helps to give vital research information into the nature,
causes and prevention of disease. Lastly, it assists public health planning by providing
information as to why and how people have died and what they have died from.

Conclusion:
From the procedures, we are able to learn the importance and the benefits of postmortem examination. Besides, we also manage to carry out all of the procedures of
post-mortem examination includes the main 4 steps: inspecting the body's exterior;
examining the internal organs' position and appearance; dissecting and examining the
internal organs; and the laboratory analysis of tissue, fluids, and other specimens.
During the examination, knowledge of animal anatomy and physiology is applied.
Furthermore, the causes of animal death can be identified and all the details are
summarized into a report for reference.

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