Decomposition

• Decomposition

  •A process

  •Begins at death

  •Loss of soft tissue

  •Skeletonisation

  •Two stages:

  •Autolysis

  •Putrefaction

  
• Stages of Decomposition

  •Fresh

  •Initial Decay – Bloating

  •Putrefaction

  •Black Putrefaction

  •Buytric Fermentation

  •Dry Decay

  
• Autolysis

  •Cellular self-destruction

  •Hydrolytic enzymes (lysosomes) are released into the cytoplasm

  •Digestion of carbohydrates and proteins

  •Caused by lack of oxygen

  •A build up of CO causes decrease in pH of cell cytoplasm

  •Cellular enzymes attack the cell wall

  •Releases nutrient rich fluid into the interstitial space

  •Temperature dependent

  
• Putrefaction

  •Autolysis creates an anaerobic environment which allows putrefaction to occur

  •Anaerobic bacterial activity causes soft tissue to break down into gases, liquids and salts

  •Can also involve fungi and protozoa

  •Putrefaction is fuelled by the release of carbohydrates during autolysis

  •Aerobic activity parallels anaerobic activity

  •Produces:

  •Gases

  •Aromatic compounds
• Signs of Putrefaction

  
• Order of Putrefaction

  •Intestines, stomach, organs of digestion, heart and blood

  •Air passages and lungs

  •Kidneys and bladder

  •Brain and nervous tissue

  •Skeletal muscles

  •Connective tissue and integument

  •Bones

  
• Bone Diagenesis

  •Decomposition slows after skeletonization occurs

  •Bacteria continue to eliminate the collagen from within the bone

  •Bone breakdown continues until a chemical equilibrium is achieved between:

  •Soil/Water and the bone itself

  •Diagenesis results in the loss of the organic components and dissolution of the mineral components of bone over time

  •Rate of diagenesis dependent on environmental factors