How Do You Spell LIVIDITY?

Pronunciation: [lɪvˈɪdɪti] (IPA)

Lividity is a noun that describes the state or quality of having a dark bluish or purplish color, typically due to lack of oxygen in the body. This word is spelled with three syllables: li-VID-i-ty. The stress falls on the second syllable, which is pronounced with a short "i" sound (like in "sit"). The first syllable is pronounced with a long "e" sound (like in "bee"), and the final two syllables are pronounced with a short "i" sound followed by "ty," which is pronounced like "tee."

LIVIDITY Meaning and Definition

1. Lividity refers to a medical and forensic term describing the coloration of the skin due to the pooling of blood after death. It is characterized by a purplish, bluish, or reddish hue that appears in areas where gravity pulls the blood downward. Lividity is a postmortem phenomenon that occurs within a few hours after death and is caused by the settling of blood in the lowest parts of the body due to gravitational force.

   The process of lividity occurs as blood, no longer being pumped through the circulatory system, settles in the dependent parts of the body such as the lower back, buttocks, and the posterior aspects of the legs. As the blood pools, it creates a visible discoloration of the skin, revealing the imprint of gravity on the body. This discoloration serves as an important indicator for forensic pathologists in determining the position and duration of death.

   Lividity is influenced by factors such as time, body position, and environmental conditions. In general, it takes approximately 2 to 4 hours for lividity to become noticeable, and it is usually fixed within 8 to 12 hours after death. The color and intensity of lividity can also provide insights into the length of time that has passed since death occurred. Overall, the analysis of lividity is a valuable tool in postmortem examination, aiding in determining the circumstances surrounding a person's demise.

2. The state of being black and blue; discoloration from venous congestion; cyanosis; a leaden or ashy-gray hue.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for LIVIDITY

• kividity
• pividity
• oividity
• luvidity
• ljvidity
• lkvidity
• lovidity
• l9vidity
• l8vidity
• licidity
• libidity
• ligidity
• lifidity
• livudity
• livjdity
• livkdity
• livodity
• liv9dity
• liv8dity

Etymology of LIVIDITY

The word "lividity" has its origin in the Latin term "lividus", which means "blue" or "pale". It is derived from the Latin word "livēre", which means "to be black and blue" or "to be discolored". In the context of lividity, this refers to the bluish discoloration of the skin that occurs after death due to the pooling of blood.

Plural form of LIVIDITY is LIVIDITIES