Sep 24, 2024

The Process of decomposition: What happens when the body dies

Siddhartha Jana

After death, the body undergoes rapid and irreversible changes, beginning within minutes of the heart stopping.

Source: Canva

Brain cells, highly dependent on oxygen, start to die within 3 to 7 minutes after cardiac arrest.

Source: Canva

The liver can continue functioning for up to an hour post-mortem, while blood begins to settle, causing livor mortis, or post-mortem discoloration.

Source: Canva

Within one hour, the skin loses color and muscles lose flexibility, but rigor mortis, the stiffening of muscles, doesn’t begin until 2 to 6 hours after death.

Source: Canva

Rigor mortis starts with smaller muscles, such as those in the eyelids and jaw, and reaches full stiffness in larger muscles within 12 hours.

Source: Canva

Autolysis, or self-digestion, begins as digestive enzymes in the stomach break down tissues within the first few hours.

Source: Canva

The corneas of the eyes can remain viable for up to 6 hours post-mortem, allowing for potential corneal donation.

Source: Canva

The timeline and nature of these changes can vary based on factors like temperature, body mass, and cause of death, but they outline the general process of decomposition.

Source: Canva

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