The Impact of Physical Parameters on Organ Weight: An Autopsy Analysis
Abstract
Organ weight serves as a critical indicator in forensic medicine for distinguishing between normal and abnormal conditions. This study analyzed the weights of six major organs—brain, lungs, heart, spleen, liver, and kidneys— in 200 cases, comprising 80 females and 120 males. The findings show that organ weights are consistently higher in males than in females across all age groups. For instance, the mean weight of the liver in females is 1240.27 ± 101 grams, while in males, it is 1352.16 ± 99 grams. Similarly, the brain weighs 1114.82 ± 98 grams in females and 1224 ± 96 grams in males. The right lung in females weighs 487.52 ± 53.53 grams and in males, 524.6 ± 45.65 grams, while the left lung weighs 448.70 ± 50.36 grams in females and 473.8 ± 39 grams in males. Spleen weight in females is 107.52 ± 13.5 grams and in males, 114.68 ± 14.16 grams. The heart weighs 258.29 ± 27.18 grams in females and 267.84 ± 25.49 grams in males. Kidney weights also differ, with the left kidney weighing 108.74 ± 16.17 grams and the right kidney 107.96 ± 15.78 grams in females, while in males, the left kidney weighs 113.72 ± 15.20 grams and the right kidney 112.9 ± 14.96 grams. These findings provide baseline organ weight data for the population in this region.
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Introduction
Organ weight plays a crucial role in both medico-legal and pathological autopsies. Establishing region-specific normal organ weights is essential for distinguishing them from abnormalities caused by trauma, pathology, or disease, which aids in determining the cause of death. Additionally, organ weight can offer valuable insights into an individual’s body weight and height estimation. Various factors, including genetics, age, sex, and race, influence organ weight, alongside external factors like socioeconomic status, dietary habits, and environmental conditions.
In a culturally diverse country like India, these external factors can vary significantly between regions. The current study, conducted in the Ajmer region of Rajasthan, aims to establish normal weight ranges for major internal organs and explore any correlations between body weight and organ weight.
This research is the first of its kind for the population in this region and provides essential data for forensic specialists, pathologists, and physicians.
Conclusion
This study presents organ weight data from 200 postmortem cases conducted in the Ajmer region of Rajasthan, offering valuable baseline information for forensic experts. Organ weights were consistently higher in males compared to females, a trend that aligns with other global studies. The data will contribute to more accurate forensic assessments in this population, providing a reference for distinguishing between normal and pathological conditions.
Further studies with larger sample sizes and consideration of additional factors such as height and body mass index (BMI) are recommended to refine these findings and support broader forensic applications.