title: Histopathological Study of a Mummified Eye and Optic Nerve from a Strangled Peruvian Mummy.
abstract: We present the histopathological findings of a naturally mummified eye from the Peruvian Lambayeque culture (900-1,200 AD), in which rehydration, light microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy allowed a detailed analysis of several eye tissues including the eyelids, sclera, and optic nerve, the latter showing evidence of hemorrhage likely related to the documented strangulation as the cause of death. We conclude that histopathological analysis of rehydrated mummified tissues can provide valuable information from fragile eye structures including the optic nerve, and these findings can be useful from a forensic point of view.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cases-Mérida
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tortosa
authors.forename: Berta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marzal
authors.forename: Arabel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Cesar
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gálvez
authors.forename: Regulo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Pedro Luis
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Fernández
mesh_terms: D001237:Asphyxia / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology; D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D005123:Eye / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D005554:Forensic Medicine; D049691:History, Medieval; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009106:Mummies / Q000473:pathology*; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010568:Peru