Estimation of Postmortem Interval from Rectal Temperature by Use of Computer — Relationship between the Rectal and Skin Cooling Curves

Abstract

The deep body temperatures at depths of 0.5 cm and of 1 cm and the skin and rectal temperatures of the living rabbit were monitored in order to clarify the initial condition. It was revealed that there is a temperature gradient similar to the logarithmic curve from the core to the surface. Taking this temperature gradient into consideration, the computer simulation model composed of the approximate equations was used to investigate the adaptability of the theoretical cooling curves to the experimental rectal and skin cooling curves. Our computer simulation model proved that the theoretical cooling curves reproduced well both the experimental rectal and skin cooling curves regardless of changes in the ambient temperature.