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Traumatic Carotid Sinus Reflex and Postmortem Investigation of the Glomus Caroticum in Cases of Pressure to the Neck

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Essentials of Autopsy Practice

Abstract

The carotid body and carotid sinus are localized in the area of the carotid bifurcation and respond to pressure fluctuations in the arterial blood vessel system. In case of irritation or stimulation, nervous impulses can reflexively increase ventilation or slow down heart rate and blood pressure, respectively. External stimulation of the carotid sinus by neck compression with subsequent bradycardia or asystole, especially in pre-existing heart disease, is discussed controversially in the literature. Histological examination of tissue of the carotid bifurcation, particularly regarding haemorrhage as an indication of tissue trauma, should be carried out as a simple and easy routine diagnostic test. Carotid bifurcations were examined histologically in 20 cases of violence against the neck and an additional 82 cases of a control group without neck trauma and variable causes of death. Haemorrhage around the carotid bifurcation was found in one case of violence against the neck. This suggested direct trauma to the tissue of the carotid bifurcation, but evidence of lethal cardiac reflex was not found in any case.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    Elke Doberentz & Burkhard Madea

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  1. Elke Doberentz
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  2. Burkhard Madea
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Correspondence to Elke Doberentz .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. East Midlands Forensic Pathology Unit, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

    Guy N. Rutty

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Doberentz, E., Madea, B. (2019). Traumatic Carotid Sinus Reflex and Postmortem Investigation of the Glomus Caroticum in Cases of Pressure to the Neck. In: Rutty, G. (eds) Essentials of Autopsy Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24330-2_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-24330-2_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-24330-2

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