Three elements are required for an electrocution to occur: a charged electrical source, a current pathway through the victim, and a ground. The current pathway for electrocution must pass through vital organs susceptible to disruption by the flow of electricity. When an electric current flows through the brain or spinal cord, death due to asphyxiation may occur because of interference with the central nervous system's control of respiration; asphyxiation may also result from direct paralysis of chest muscles. When electrical current flows through the heart, fatal ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest may occur. Low-voltage alternating current (120 volts, 60 Hz) traveling through the chest for a split second is particularly likely to cause ventricular fibrillation. A ground has the same electrical potential as the earth, i.e., zero. Examples of good grounds include metal water pipes and faucets, metal electrical conduits, the metal parts of electrical outlets and fixtures, and grounded appliances. Separate sections of the chapter discuss injury by lightning and deaths that have resulted from taser-gun shocks. Physical signs of death due to electrocution, including electrical burns, are noted. Extensive photographic exhibits and 21 references