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• Forensic Medicine Lecture Notes - Eneutron
• Previous Lecture Notes - Method of External & Internal Autopsy

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Lungs

1. Place the lungs with anterior surfaces upper most & open pulmonary artery.
2. Look for thrombi, emboli or Atherosclerosis.
3. To separate the lungs, a long-blade knife is placed blunt edge upwards under the Hilum. With a short sawing motion, the Hilum is completely cut through.
4. Lung is cut across from apex to base with large brain knife.
5. Lung is examined for consolidation, edema, emphysema, congestion, emboli.

Heart

1. Heart is held at apex and Pulmonary vessels, superior & inferior vena cava and ascending aorta are cut.
2. The pulmonary artery should be palpated for embolus or thrombus
3. 1st Incision
1. The Right atrium is cut between openings of superior or inferior vena cava
2. The enterotomy scissor is introduced into right atrium, cuts through tricuspid valve and opens right ventricle along lateral margin
4. 2nd Incision
1. The enterotomy scissor is introduced into right ventricle close to apex and the pulmonary valve are cut along inter-ventricular septum in the anterior wall of right ventricle.
2. The incision should extend into the left pulmonary artery
5. 3rd Incision
1. The left atrium is cut between the opening of pulmonary veins.
2. Then the left atrium is cut along its lateral wall
3. The incision exterds through the Mitral Orifice and passes along lateral margin of left ventricular upto the Apex.
6. 4th Incision
1. The last incision extends from the apex along the inter-ventricular septum of Aorta, opening the Aortic valve.
7. Heart is examined for thrombus, infarction and fibrosis

Stomach

1. Stomach is removed after applying double ligatures at each end.
2. Stomach is opened along its greater curvature from cardiac to pyloric end.
3. The content is examined for nature of any food, its state of digestion, smell, color and also for presence of foreign or suspicious matter.

Intestines

1. The large intestine is opened along the anterior taenia.
2. The small intestine is opened along the line of mesentric attachment.
3. They are examined for congestion, inflammation, erosion, ulcers, performation.

Liver

1. Its weight, 4 sizes, color, consistency and presence of any pathological process are noted
2. It is cut into slices 2 cm thick along long axis.

Spleen

1. Its weight, 3 sizes, consistency, rupture, injuries are noted.
2. It is sectioned in its long axis
3. Character of parencyma, follicles and septa are noted.

Pancreas

1. It is sliced by series of cuts at right angles to long axis
2. Examine pancreas for necrosis

Kidneys

1. Its weight and 3 sizes are noted
2. The kidney is sectioned longitudinally through the convex border into Hilum, so as to split in half and open the pelvis
3. The pelvis is examined for calculi and inflammation.

Bladder

1. It is opened from fundus and incision is carried into the urethra
2. The condition of wall and amount & character of urine are noted.

Prostate

1. It is examined for enlargement or malignancy.
2. Ventricle cross section through the lateral & median lobes are made with knife.

Testes

1. Incise the deep aspects of inguinal canal and pull out a loop of vas with finger.
2. Free the vas to internal inguinal ring.
3. Push the testis up out of scrotum with right hand and pull the vas with left hand.
4. The testis and epididymis are cut longitudinally with a knife.
5. Note for the presence of blood clot inside the scrotum and around testis.

Female Genitalia

1. The vagina and uterus are cut anteriorly or posteriorly upto the fundus.
2. Two short incisions are made in the fundus from main longitudinal incision towards each corner to expose endometrium.
3. The ovaries are sectioned longitudinally and tubes are cut across at intervals.
4. If uterus contains fetus, its age should be determined.