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Related Concept Videos

Hypoxia01:23

Hypoxia

Hypoxia is a medical condition characterized by an inadequate oxygen supply to body tissues. It typically manifests as a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucosae, especially in fair-skinned individuals, when hemoglobin (Hb) saturation drops below 75%.
Types of Hypoxia
There are four primary types of hypoxia, each resulting from a different cause:
1. Anemic hypoxia: This type occurs due to insufficient oxygen delivery caused by a lack of red blood cells (RBCs) or RBCs with abnormal or...
Necrosis01:16

Necrosis

Necrosis is considered as an “accidental” or unexpected form of cell death that ends in cell lysis. The first noticeable mention of “necrosis” was in 1859 when Rudolf Virchow used this term to describe advanced tissue breakdown in his compilation titled “Cell Pathology”.
Morphological Manifestations of Necrosis
Necrotic cells show different types of morphological appearance depending on the type of tissue and infection. In coagulative necrosis, cells become anucleated and die, but their...
Lethal Alleles02:41

Lethal Alleles

Agouti: A Lethal Allele
Lucien Cuénot discovered lethal alleles in 1905 while studying the inheritance of coat color in mice. The agouti gene is responsible for the color of the coat in mice. This gene codes for an agouti-signaling protein, which is responsible for melanin distribution in mammals. The wild-type allele gives rise to gray-brown coat color in mice, while the mutant allele gives rise to yellow coat color. In addition to coat color, the agouti gene is associated with the yellow...
Overview of Cell Death01:30

Overview of Cell Death

Cell death is an essential process where the body gets rid of old or damaged cells. Cell proliferation and death need to be balanced, as an imbalance between the two may lead to cancer or autoimmune diseases.
Cell death was observed in the early 19th century, but there was no experimental evidence to prove it. In 1842, Carl Vogt first discovered cell death in a metamorphic toad; however, it was not termed ‘cell death.’ Scientists discovered different cell death pathways only in the 20th century...
Apoptosis01:30

Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a combination of two Greek words, 'apo' and 'ptosis,' meaning separation and falling off, respectively. Hippocrates used this word to describe gangrene, which was caused due to bandaging of fractured bones. Apoptosis was distinguished from necrosis in 1970 when John Kerr reported observations of morphological changes occurring during apoptosis. During one experiment, he observed that the disruption of blood supply to the liver tissue resulted in a size reduction of the tissue.
Autophagic Cell Death01:18

Autophagic Cell Death

Christian de Duve discovered “autophagy,” a process in which cellular components are engulfed by membrane-bound organelles called autophagosomes. The autophagosomes then fuse with lysosomes to digest the enclosed contents. Autophagy is generally activated in cells to prevent cell death. However, cell death is triggered when the damage is beyond repair.
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2026

Double Direct Injection of Blood into the Cisterna Magna as a Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
10:34

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Published on: August 30, 2020

Homicide by unspecified means.

Evan W Matshes1, Emma O Lew

  • 1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Foothills Hospital, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada. matshes@deathinvestigator.com

The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
|May 4, 2010
PubMed
Summary

Forensic pathology integrates scene investigation and autopsy to determine cause of death. "Homicide by unspecified means" is a diagnostic label used when evidence suggests homicide but no specific cause is found.

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Area of Science:

  • Forensic Pathology
  • Death Investigation
  • Medical Law

Background:

  • North American death investigation systems aim to determine cause and manner of death.
  • Modern forensic pathology emphasizes an integrative approach, considering scene, history, physical exam, and lab studies.
  • An autopsy-focused practice may not identify cause of death in suspicious cases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze cases diagnosed as "homicide by unspecified means" in Miami-Dade County.
  • To describe the characteristics of these challenging death investigation cases.
  • To provide guidelines for the appropriate use of this diagnostic label.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective search of Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner Department records.
  • Identification of cases diagnosed between 1990 and 2004 with "homicide by unspecified means."
  • Analysis of the characteristics of the identified cases.

Main Results:

  • Eighteen cases of "homicide by unspecified means" were identified between 1990 and 2004.
  • The study discusses the characteristics of these cases.
  • Guidelines for the diagnostic label's use are presented.

Conclusions:

  • The "homicide by unspecified means" diagnosis serves as a summative statement when evidence indicates homicide despite an absent anatomic cause of death.
  • This integrative approach is crucial for accurate death certification in complex cases.
  • Clear guidelines are necessary for consistent application of this diagnostic category.