Cadaver

The anatomy lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt shows an anatomy lesson taking place in Amsterdam in 1632.

A cadaver, also called corpse (singular) in medical, literary, and legal usage, or when intended for dissection, is a deceased body.[1]

Human decay

Cadaver in Refrigerator in the Forensic Medicine at the Charité Berlin

Observation of the various stages of decomposition can help determine how long a body has been dead.

Stages of decomposition

  1. The first stage is autolysis, more commonly known as self-digestion, during which the body's cells are destroyed through the action of their own digestive enzymes. However, these enzymes are released into the cells because of active processes ceasing in the cells, not as an active process. In other words, though autolysis resembles the active process of digestion of nutrients by live cells, the dead cells are not actively digesting themselves as is often claimed in popular literature and as the synonym of autolysis self-digestion seems to imply. As a result of autolysis, liquid is created that gets between the layers of skin and makes the skin peel off. During this stage, flies (when present) start to lay eggs in the openings of the body: eyes, nostrils, mouth, ears, open wounds, and other orifices. Hatched larvae, (maggots) of blowflies, subsequently get under the skin and start to eat the body.
  2. The second stage of decomposition is bloating; bacteria in the gut begin to break down the tissues of the body, releasing gas that accumulates in the intestines, which becomes trapped because of the early collapse of the small intestine. This bloating occurs largely in the abdomen, and sometimes in the mouth and genitals. The tongue may swell. This usually happens in about the second week of decomposition. Gas accumulation and bloating will continue until the body is decomposed sufficiently for the gas to escape.
  3. The third stage is putrefaction. It is the last and longest stage. Putrefaction is where the larger structures of the body break down, and tissues liquefy. The digestive organs, the brain, and lungs are the first to disintegrate. Under normal conditions, the organs are unidentifiable after three weeks. The muscles can be eaten by bacteria or devoured by animals. Eventually, sometimes after several years, all that remains is the skeleton. In acid-rich soils, the skeleton will eventually dissolve into its base chemicals.

The rate of decomposition depends on many factors including temperature and the environment. The warmer and more humid the environment, the faster the body is broken down.[2]

History

Anatomical dissection by Andreas Vesalius of a female

Greek physicians Herophilus (335–280 BC) and Erasistratus (c.304–c.250 BC) were among the first on record to have dissected bodies. Andreas Vesalius (1514–1564), author of De humani corporis fabrica, who was able to dispel many misconceptions by dissecting human cadavers, is regarded as the father of modern human anatomy.[3][4] Indian ancient texts Sushruta Samhita (2nd century BCE) and Charaka Samhita have mentioned the dissection procedure.[5][6]

The tradition of dissecting criminals was carried up into the eighteenth and nineteenth century when anatomy schools became popular in England and Scotland. Criminals who were executed for their crimes were used as the first cadavers. From the 16th century until 1832, and the passage of the Anatomy Act, in Britain the only cadavers legally available for dismemberment came from executed murderers.[7] The demand for cadavers increased when the number of criminals being executed decreased. Since corpses were in such high demand, it became commonplace to steal bodies from graves in order to keep the market supplied.

The methods of preserving cadavers have changed over the last 200 years. At that time, cadavers had to be used immediately because there were no adequate methods to keep the body from quickly decaying. Preservation was needed in order to carry out classes and lessons about the human body. Glutaraldehyde was the first main chemical used for embalming and preserving the body although it leaves a yellow stain in the tissues, which can interfere with observation and research.

Formaldehyde is the chemical that is used as the main embalming chemical now. It is a colorless solution that maintains the tissue in its lifelike texture and can keep the body well preserved for an extended period.

Cadavers in science

Cadavers have contributed to body science and medical students often use cadavers to study anatomy. Cadavers are often used to verify surgical techniques before moving on to living patients.[8] While many schools have moved to using technology and surgical models to teach students, cadavers are still needed for hands on learning. Appendectomies, the removal of the appendix, are performed 28,000 times a year in the United States and are still practiced on human cadavers and not with technology simulations.[9] Gross anatomy, a common course in medical school studying the visual structures of the body, gives students the opportunity to have a hands-on learning environment. The need for cadavers has also grown outside of academic programs for research. Organizations like Science Care and the Anatomy Gifts Registry help send bodies where they are needed most.[9]

Body snatching

While the term "grave robber" was technically used for individuals who stole jewelry from the deceased, some respected anatomy instructors exhumed bodies themselves. Famous anatomist Thomas Sewall, who later became the personal physician for three U.S. presidents, was convicted in 1818 of digging up a corpse for dissection.

There are cases in which some anatomists would even dissect members of their own family. William Harvey, the man famous for discovering the circulatory system, was so dedicated to his study that he even went as far to dissect his father and sister. From 1827 to 1828 in Scotland, a number of murders were carried out, so that the bodies could be sold to medical schools for research purposes. These became known as the West Port murders. The Anatomy Act of 1832 was formed and passed because of the murders. H. H. Holmes, a noted serial killer in Chicago, Illinois, USA, sold the skeletons of some of his victims to medical schools.

By 1828 some anatomists were paying others to perform the exhumation. At that time, Some London anatomy schools employed ten full-time body snatchers and about 200 part-time workers during the dissection season. This period ran from October to May, when the winter cold slowed down the decomposition of the bodies. At the time, a crew of six or seven could dig up about 310 bodies.

Disposing of the dissected body was difficult, and over the years, rumors have appeared about how anatomists might have managed to do so. One possibility was secretly burying the remains behind their school, whilst another rumored possibility was that they gave the bodies to zoo keepers, as feed for carnivorous animals or burial beneath elephant grazing pens, or fed the bodies to vultures kept specifically for this purpose.

Stories appeared of people murdering for the money they could make off cadaver sales. Two of the most famous are that of Burke and Hare, and that of Bishop, May, and Williams.

Body snatching, an act of the past, is said to be the initial controversy amongst medical ethics. Medical practice is viewed by the public as a source of treatment and healing, making the learning process overshadowed. This caused past physicians to resort to unlawful ways to fulfill their passion for knowledge.[10]

Making cars safer

Since the 1930s cadavers have been essential in making vehicles safer. Cadavers have helped set guidelines on the safety features of vehicles ranging from laminated windshields to seat belt airbags. After the crash tests, the cadavers are taken in to get x-rayed and autopsied to examine the damage. Cadavers have helped Ford promote inflatable rear seat belts in the 2011 Explorer.[11] Cadavers can indicate how seat belts will create soft tissue damage, which is something a crash test dummy cannot do. An example that occurred in an experiment in Europe was that scientists were testing a new seat belt and thought it was unflawed.Then, after testing it on a dummy, they brought in a cadaver. They later found out that the seat belt protected the sternum, but not the pelvis. They were unable to find this out in the dummy because it did not have working parts located in the pelvic area, like the human cadaver.[12] See Crash test dummy for more information.

Embalming

The embalming process includes the use of specialist chemicals.

When a corpse is buried, the body will decompose by the actions of anaerobic bacteria. In many countries, corpses buried in coffins are embalmed. An embalmer may prepare the corpse for a lifelike appearance. Embalming fluid is then pumped into the body via an artery (commonly carotid, or femoral). This rehydrates the tissues and severely reduces the pace of decomposition.

Embalming is used to preserve the corpse temporarily, but may last for years. In some countries, such as the United States and Japan, make-up is applied to the corpse to prepare the body for public presentation. About 70 percent of Americans now die at hospitals or other facilities, rather than at home, and the bodies that do go through a formal viewing are preserved with embalming fluid and covered with makeup, then sealed in caskets to decompose deep underground.[13] The first step to embalming is surgical. Bodily fluids are removed and replaced with formaldehyde-based chemicals. The second step is cosmetic. During this step the body is prepared for viewing. This process consists of styling the hair, applying make-up, and setting the facial features. The corpse is then ready to go into the coffin. The embalmers then lower the corpse into the coffin, and then lower the coffin into the grave.

See also

References

  1. ↑ New Oxford Dictionary of English, 1999. cadaver Medicine: or poetic/literary: a cait.
  2. ↑ "Decomposition – The Forensics Library". aboutforensics.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-02-06.
  3. ↑ O'Malley, C. D. (1964). "Andreas Vesalius 1514–1564". Medical History. 8 (4): 299–308. ISSN 0025-7273. PMC 1033406 Freely accessible. PMID 14230135. doi:10.1017/s002572730002977x.
  4. ↑ "Andreas Vesalius – Biography, Facts and Pictures". www.famousscientists.org.
  5. ↑ "Here’s why science declined in India".
  6. ↑ "dissection of corpses".
  7. ↑ Roach, Mary (2004). Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers. New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Company. pp. 40–41. ISBN 0-393-05093-9.
  8. ↑ Eizenberg, Norman (December 30, 2017). "Anatomy and its impact on medicine: Will it continue?". The Australasian Medical Journal. 8: 373–7. PMC 4701898 Freely accessible. PMID 26759611. doi:10.4066/AMJ.2015.2550.
  9. 1 2 McCall, Matt (July 29, 2016). "The Secret Lives of Cadavers". National Geographic.
  10. ↑ Frank, Julia Bess (1976). "Body snatching: a grave medical problem.". The Yale Journal of Biology and Medicine. 49: 409–410.
  11. ↑ Hyde, Justin (August 21, 2010). "How Cadavers Made Your Car Safer". WIRED. Archived from the original on April 20, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  12. ↑ Hadden, Gerry (February 10, 2014). "Europe takes a cue from US and decides to use cadavers to make cars safer". PRI's The World. Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  13. ↑ Stromberg, Joseph (October 28, 2014). "The science of human decay: Inside the world's largest body farm". Vox. Retrieved February 6, 2017.

Further reading

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