A body is exhumed 3 years after burial in a waterlogged soil. The soft tissues are converted to a yellowish-white, waxy, soap-like substance with a rancid odour. Microscopically, the tissue is replaced by a material that does NOT stain with fat stains. What has occurred?
- A Mummification
- B Putrefaction with gas formation
- C Saponification (adipocere formation) ✓
- D Maceration
Explanation
Adipocere (saponification) is the conversion of body fat to a firm, yellowish-white waxy material by the action of water and anaerobic bacteria (Clostridium spp.) hydrolysing neutral fats to free fatty acids (palmitic, stearic acids), which then combine with tissue calcium and ammonium to form insoluble soap-like compounds (calcium and ammonium soaps). Adipocere does NOT stain with standard fat stains (e.g., Oil Red O) because the lipid has been converted to non-neutral-fat compounds. It is favoured by warm, moist, anaerobic conditions such as waterlogged soil. Mummification requires hot, dry, well-ventilated conditions.
Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (Narayan Reddy), 34th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.