strangulation

strangulation /stran·gu·la·tion/ (strang″gu-la´shun)

1. choke (2).

2. arrest of circulation in a part due to compression. See hemostasis (2).

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stran·gu·la·tion (strnggy-lshn)

n.

1. The act of strangling or strangulating.

2. The state of being strangled or strangulated.

3. Constriction of a body part so as to cut off the flow of blood or another fluid.

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strangulation

[strang′gyəlā′shən]

Etymology: L, strangulare, to choke

the constriction of a tubular structure of the body, such as the trachea, a segment of bowel, or the blood vessels of a limb, that prevents function or impedes circulation. See also intestinal strangulation.

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strangulation,

n a choking or throttling. The arrest of respiration resulting from occlusion of the air passage or arrest of the circulation in part because of compression.

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strangulation

1. arrest of respiration by occlusion of the air passages.

2. impairment of the blood supply to a part by mechanical constriction of the vessels. See also colic (2), intestinal obstruction, intestinal strangulation.

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strangulation

Forensic medicine Transient, or more commonly, permanent occlusion of the tracheal lumen; 3500 suicidal strangulations occur/yr–US, 1983; homicidal strangulations represent 5-10% of criminally violent deaths in urban populations. Cf Sexual asphyxia Obstetrics See Cord strangulation.

Strangulation–Manner, mechanism, setting

Manner of death Hanging–usually suicidal, ligature, manual, postural

Mechanism of death

• Mechanical constriction of neck structures–primary mechanism in suicidal stangulation; it is unknown whether arterial occlusion, venous occlusion, or asphyxia causes most deaths in 'mechanical' strangulation

• Injury to spinal cord and brainstem–due to drop, the intended cause of death in judicial hangings

• Cardiac arrest, possibly facilitated by pressure on the carotid sinus, and pericarotid sympathetic and parasympathetic networks

Setting Suicidal, homicidal, accidental, judicial–no longer performed in developed nations, despite its alleged value as a crime deterrent and for pre-TV entertainment

Ann Emerg Med 1984; 13:179