[Morphological features of non-traumatic intramuscular hemorrhage]

The formation of non-traumatic intramuscular hemorrhages does not depend on the cause of death. They usually occur in the muscles attached to the rib cage, which are or may be involved in the inhalation process (84.6%). More often, non-respiratory muscles are damaged (66%), less often auxiliary respiratory muscles (15.5%), extremely rarely - the main respiratory muscles (3.3%). In hypothermia, the majority of hemorrhages are formed in the iliopsoas muscles (13.9%). The main reason for the appearance of hemorrhages is muscle overstrain in the agonal period due to increased respiratory activity and seizures. The motor activity of the upper extremities during drowning, prolonged static muscle tension during hypothermia may matter. A microscopic picture usually indicates the formation of hemorrhages shortly before death, and occasionally signs of anxiety are noted.