Adipocera first develops in the subcutaneous tissues, most often on the cheeks, breasts and buttocks. In rare cases, it can affect the intestines such as the liver. The adipocera is mixed with the mummified remnants of muscles, fibrous tissues and nerves. The main medico-legal significance of Adipocere lies not in the determination of the post-mortem interval, but in the preservation of the body, which contributes to personal identification and the detection of injuries. Creation of a National Forensic Death Investigation Office Draft initial recommendation for the formation of a National Forensic Death Investigation Office (presented at NCFS Meeting #10 – 20-21. June 2016)Decision Summary on the Recommendation to Establish a National Forensic Death Investigation OfficeFinal Draft Recommendation on the Establishment of a National Forensic Death Investigation OfficeRecommendation to Establish a National Forensic Death Investigation Office (adopted at NCFS Meeting #11 – September 13, 2016) Once Adipocera can remain extremely resistant to change as long as appropriate environmental conditions are maintained. Adipocere can be preserved in remains hundreds of years old. However, if environmental conditions change, Adipocer may be degraded. Favorable conditions for the degradation of the formed adipocera are exposure to air, increased ambient humidity, fungal growth and the presence of gram-positive bacteria.
It is clear that adipocera formation complicates the estimation of the post-mortem interval. Various workers have described adipocere as “funeral wax” or “corpse wax” (Forbes, 2008; Ubelaker and Tsarenko, 2011; Schoenen and Schoenen, 2013) with its definition based on morphological characteristics. Gill-King (1997) defined it as a “grey-white cheese material”, Janaway et al. (2009) defined it as a “waxy substance”, while Schoenen and Schoenen (2013) described it as “whitish, soft lipid mass to solid-friable, odourless, musty or foul-smelling, fatty lipid mass”. Regardless of the definition, the basis for adipocera formation, as widely recognized by various researchers, is the hydrolysis and hydrogenation of adipose tissue (Forbes et al., 2005a; Ubelaker and Tsarenko, 2011; Schoenen and Schoenen, 2013). Bacterial activity in a temperature range of 22-38°C in a moist, anaerobic environment has been reported to promote its formation (Forbes, 2008; Schoenen and Schoenen, 2013; Kasuda et al., 2016). As reported by Ubelaker and Tsarenko (2011), adipocere is a major taphonomic phenomenon due to its : Adipocere is formed by anaerobic bacterial hydrolysis of fats in tissues. Fat conversion to adipocerus is best done in a high-moisture, oxygen-starved environment, such as moist soil or mud at the bottom of a lake or sealed coffin, and can occur in embalmed and untreated bodies. The formation of adipocera begins within a month of death and can persist for centuries in the absence of air. [8] The dipole formation preserved the left hemisphere of the brain of a 13th century infant, so that by the 20th century, an infant`s brain was the only one of the oldest infants.
In the nineteenth century, the bodies Sulci, Gyri and even Nissl could be distinguished in the motor cortex. [9] An exposed and insect-infested body or a body in a warm environment is unlikely to form fat deposits. CT Description/Information: The body was in an advanced state of decomposition. There was significant skin loss on most of the body, with deep soft tissue remaining around the spine and upper back. The skull was loosely attached to the cervical spine. A number of skeletal elements were missing, including the lower jaw, some ribs, left and right forearms, and hand bones, as well as the left and right lower legs and feet. In addition, the internal organs of the chest, abdomen and pelvis were missing. The hyoid bone as well as the thyroid and annular cartilage were identified among the remains and showed no signs of injury.
Although only a few teeth remain in situ, the right 2nd premolar and 1st molar show pink discoloration (Fig. 9.46). Adipocere (/ˈædɪpəˌsɪər, -poʊ-/[1][2]), also known as corpse wax, funerary wax or corpse wax, is a waxy organic substance formed by anaerobic bacterial hydrolysis of fats in tissues, such as body fat in cadavers. In its formation, putrefaction is replaced by permanent fixed occupation of adipose tissue, internal organs and face. Saponification (preparation of soap) or adipocer formation is a change in putrefaction, characterized by the transformation of adipose tissue into a yellowish-white, oily (but brittle in the dry state) waxy substance, which has a sweet rancid smell when its formation is complete. In the early stages of its production, a penetrating and very persistent ammonium smell is emitted. Adipocere, also known as “funerary wax” or “corpse wax”, develops as a result of the hydrolysis of fats with the release of fatty acids which, being acidic, inhibit putrefactive bacteria. Fatty acids absorb sodium or potassium to form hard soap (sapo durus) or mild soap (sapo domesticus). Replacing sodium and potassium with calcium results in an insoluble soap that gives Adipocere a more fragile quality.
However, fat and water alone do not produce adipozers. Rot organisms, of which Clostridium welchii is most active, are important, and the formation of Adipocere is facilitated by post-mortem invasion of tissues by commensal bacteria. A warm, humid and anaerobic environment thus promotes the formation of adipocera. Another feature of natural preservation is caused by the formation of adipocere, which is the saponification of lipids in the body by bacteria. It is most commonly seen in moist and anaerobic environments such as landfills in waterlogged soils. The formation of this tissue can be observed as early as 2 weeks post-mortem, but the formation covering the entire carcass can take several years (Yan et al., 2001). Originally thought to occur only in aqueous environments, it is now thought that there is enough water in the body for saturated fatty acids to hydrogenate and hydrolyze to adipocere, where the release of fatty acids limits breakdown and inhibits bacterial growth. When fresh, Adipocere is characterized by an ammonia smell and a soft, moist and greasy appearance. Over time, it dries out and forms a gray or white, crumbly appearance, hence the name “funerary wax” (Nushida et al., 2008). Mummification and skeletonizing can accompany the formation of adipocera, but as a rule, the formation of adipocera is accompanied by an increase in the volume of the affected body.