Bone citrate content as an indicator of post-mortem interval. 2024

Simona Sulis, and Lenka Vorobeľová
Department of Anthropology, Comenius University Bratislava, Ilkovičova 3278/6, 841 04, Bratislava, Slovakia.

The citrate levels in the bone start to decrease after death. Therefore, it may be possible to estimate the post-mortem interval if the citrate content decreases at regular and predictable intervals. To verify this, it was used twelve fresh porcine tibiae and femora, fifteen recently buried porcine bones, two samples of human bones curated from the anatomical teaching collection from Bournemouth University, UK (never been buried) and fifteen samples of archaeological human bones from Saint Augustine the Less, Bristol, UK. The results obtained in this study align together with the data available in the literature, with higher citrate content in the fresh porcine bones and lower in the archaeological samples, however, a statistical significance was not found. Moreover, the formula used to estimate the time since death largely overestimated the known PMI. Further research should be done with a larger sample and a new formula to estimate the post-mortem interval is required.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011180 Postmortem Changes Physiological changes that occur in bodies after death. Adipocere,Algor Mortis,Cruor,Livor Mortis,Change, Postmortem,Changes, Postmortem,Postmortem Change
D001842 Bone and Bones A specialized CONNECTIVE TISSUE that is the main constituent of the SKELETON. The principal cellular component of bone is comprised of OSTEOBLASTS; OSTEOCYTES; and OSTEOCLASTS, while FIBRILLAR COLLAGENS and hydroxyapatite crystals form the BONE MATRIX. Bone Tissue,Bone and Bone,Bone,Bones,Bones and Bone,Bones and Bone Tissue,Bony Apophyses,Bony Apophysis,Condyle,Apophyses, Bony,Apophysis, Bony,Bone Tissues,Condyles,Tissue, Bone,Tissues, Bone
D005269 Femur The longest and largest bone of the skeleton, it is situated between the hip and the knee. Trochanter,Greater Trochanter,Lesser Trochanter,Femurs,Greater Trochanters,Lesser Trochanters,Trochanter, Greater,Trochanter, Lesser,Trochanters,Trochanters, Greater,Trochanters, Lesser
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001344 Autopsy Postmortem examination of the body. Autopsies,Post-Mortem Examination,Postmortem Examination,Examination, Post-Mortem,Examination, Postmortem,Examinations, Post-Mortem,Examinations, Postmortem,Post Mortem Examination,Post-Mortem Examinations,Postmortem Examinations
D013552 Swine Any of various animals that constitute the family Suidae and comprise stout-bodied, short-legged omnivorous mammals with thick skin, usually covered with coarse bristles, a rather long mobile snout, and small tail. Included are the genera Babyrousa, Phacochoerus (wart hogs), and Sus, the latter containing the domestic pig (see SUS SCROFA). Phacochoerus,Pigs,Suidae,Warthogs,Wart Hogs,Hog, Wart,Hogs, Wart,Wart Hog
D019343 Citric Acid A key intermediate in metabolism. It is an acid compound found in citrus fruits. The salts of citric acid (citrates) can be used as anticoagulants due to their calcium chelating ability. Citrate,Anhydrous Citric Acid,Citric Acid Monohydrate,Citric Acid, Anhydrous,Uralyt U

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