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Autopsy: Jackson Was Healthy

King of Pop had track marks, surgery scars, but organs were fine

By the Associated Press

Posted Oct 1, 2009 12:31 PM CDT

(AP) – Michael Jackson's arms were covered with punctures, his face and neck were scarred, and he had tattooed eyebrows and lips, but he wasn't the sickly skeleton of a man portrayed by tabloids, according to his autopsy report. In fact, the Los Angeles County coroner's report shows Jackson was a fairly healthy 50-year-old before he died of an overdose. His 136 pounds were in the acceptable range for a 5-foot-9 man.

His heart was strong with no sign of plaque buildup. And his kidneys and most other major organs were normal. Still, Jackson had health issues: arthritis in the lower spine and some fingers, and mild plaque buildup in his leg arteries. Most serious was his lungs, which the autopsy report said were chronically inflamed and had reduced capacity that might have left him short of breath.

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Michael Jackson. (AP Photo)

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His overall health was fine. The results are within normal limits. - Dr. Zeev Kain, University of California, Irvine, who reviewed the results

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Autopsy: Jackson Was Healthy