Pronunciation: [lˈa͡ɪvə] (IPA) 
The word "Livor" is often misspelled as "Liver" due to its similar pronunciation. However, the correct spelling of this word is "Livor" and it refers to the discoloration of the skin after death. The IPA phonetic transcription for "Livor" is /ˈlɪvər/, while the transcription for "Liver" is /ˈlɪvər/. Despite the subtle difference in pronunciation, it is important to use the correct spelling for accuracy and clarity in communication.
Livor, also known as livor mortis, is a medical term used to describe the phenomenon that occurs after death, where blood settles or pools in the parts of the body that are closest to the ground. It is derived from the Latin word "livor," meaning lividity or discoloration.
When a person dies, blood circulation stops, causing blood cells to settle under the influence of gravity. Livor usually appears within two to four hours after death and becomes more pronounced over time. It is characterized by a deep purple or dark red coloration in areas where blood has accumulated. These areas typically include the dependent or lowest parts of the body, such as the back, posterior side of buttocks, back of thighs, and undersides of arms.
The formation and appearance of livor can provide valuable forensic information to determine important factors surrounding the death, such as the position of the body after death or the occurrence of foul play. The lividity pattern, along with other autopsy findings, can help forensic investigators and pathologists determine if a body has been moved or if any pressure was applied on certain parts after death.
It is worth noting that livor is not the same as bruises or other external marks caused by trauma before or after death. Lividity is an internal discoloration caused by blood pooling, whereas external marks may result from injuries inflicted during life. Therefore, careful analysis and differentiation between these findings are essential in forensic investigations.
1. Lividity. 2. The discoloration of the skin on the dependent parts of a corpse.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The term livor comes from the Latin word livor which means bluish color, lividity. In Latin, it was originally used to describe dusky or blue discoloration of the skin that occurs after death, particularly in dependent parts of the body. It evolved from the Latin verb livere which means to be black and blue or to be envious and is also related to the Latin word lividus meaning livid or bluish.
