Perimortem
Definition
At or around the time of death. Distinguishing perimortem predation injuries (which may indicate a cause of death) from postmortem scavenging (which does not) is a central problem in livestock predation forensics and in cases involving bodies left in areas with wildlife.
Related terms
- Avulsive Wound
- A wound in which tissue is torn away rather than cleanly cut. Dog and large-cat bites frequently create avulsive wounds through a...
- Carnassial Teeth
- The large, blade-like shearing teeth (upper fourth premolar and lower first molar in dogs and cats) that carnivores use to slice through...
- Inter-Canine Distance
- The distance between the tips or contact points of the upper canine teeth on each side of the arch. This measurement differs...
- Puncture Wound
- A wound where a pointed tooth penetrates tissue to create a hole with a relatively small surface opening and a deeper track....
- Scavenging Artefact
- Marks, wounds, or tissue removal caused by animals feeding on a body after death. Scavenging artefacts can alter or destroy existing wounds...
Explained in
- Human versus Animal Bite MarksAt or around the time of death. Distinguishing perimortem predation injuries (which may indicate a cause of death) from postmortem scavenging (which does not)...