System: Forensic Pathology: Skin: : Electrocution
Image 1: Microblisters are prominent in the stratum corneum.
Image 2: There is separation of the epidermis (bottom) from the dermis (top) with streaming of the nuclei (center of image).
This 37 year old woman died of low voltage electrocution. She had unplugged a frayed electrical cord from a trailer in the vicinity of grass with standing water. She was found unresponsive on the wet ground with the cord lying next to her. Autopsy revealed an electrical burn representing the entrance of the current on the left palm. No obvious exit current was identified on the body or clothes.