Postmortem changes, also known as decomposition, refer to the series of natural processes that occur in a deceased organism after death. These changes can be observed in both plants and animals and are primarily the result of microbial activity and autolysis, the breakdown of cells by the body's own enzymes.
Postmortem changes can be categorized into several stages, including fresh, bloat, active decay, advanced decay, and dry remains stages. During the fresh stage, the body undergoes algor mortis, or a drop in body temperature, and livor mortis, the settling of blood in the lower parts of the body. Soon after, rigor mortis, the stiffening of muscles, sets in.
The bloat stage follows, where the body experiences the accumulation of gases produced by bacteria, causing swelling and discoloration. As the decomposition process advances, the body enters the active decay stage, characterized by the breakdown of tissues and the release of fluids. This stage is commonly associated with foul odors due to the release of putrefactive gases.
In the advanced decay stage, the remaining tissues and organs continue to deteriorate, leaving behind mostly dry remains. Finally, during the dry remains stage, decay significantly slows down, and what remains of the body typically consists of bones, hair, and any non-biodegradable substances.
Postmortem changes have been extensively studied and can provide important insights for forensic investigations, helping determine the approximate time since death and potential causes of death.
