How a Human Body Decomposes After Death

When doctors note a time of death, it is the moment that the heart beat stops. At this time a person loses awareness and their muscles relax completely. Certain parts of the body, such as brain cells, remain alive for a further three to seven minutes. Shortly after death, the contents of the stomach may be regurgitated and urine and semen emitted.

The First 24 Hours after Death

In The Good Death Guide, Michael Dunn describes the changes in a body in the first day after death. The first significant sign is a sharp drop in body temperature. This is referred to as algor mortis. Other changes include the following:

• The skin turns a greyish-white colour.
• The eyes become dull and film over and the pupils dilate.
• Skin loses elasticity.
• Blood sinks by gravity, turning areas where it settles blue and purple.
• Lactic acid is produced in muscles causing the stiffness of rigor mortis. This starts developing one to four hours after death and is complete after 24 hours. The effects can last 36-48 hours.

Changes in a Corpse from Two Days to a Week after Death

Michael Dunn states that putrefaction of body tissue begins after about two days. Refrigeration can delay this and very hot dry air will dry out the body and mummify it. Embalming will preserve a body for a limited length of time. If a body is left untreated at room temperature, it will go through the following stages:

• The human bowel contains bacteria that multiply rapidly after death. This starts the process of decay and is aided by the enzymes and chemicals also present in the body.
• The body will show greenish discoloration on the chest, lower abdomen and thighs.
• The putrid smell of death will increase. This is caused by sulphur-saturated gas produced from bacterial action and the breakdown of red blood cells.
• Four to six days after death the body will bloat with gas unless an incision is made in the abdomen to release it. The build up of gas causes the eyes and tongue to protrude and the intestines may be pushed into the rectum and vagina.
• The body may turn purple and black.
• Bloodstained fluid may leak from bodily orifices.

The Later Stages of Decomposition

A body is normally embalmed or buried within a week but will continue to decompose in the following manner:

• A week after death, most of the body will be discoloured and the skin will blister and may lift off the body.
• After two weeks the breasts, abdomen, scrotum and tongue swell.
• After three to four weeks the hair, nails and teeth loosen and internal organs rupture and liquefy.
• If a body is buried, the coffin is likely to disintegrate after a few months and the body will liquefy as a result of chemical action, bacteria and insect activity.
• After one to two years, only the skeleton will remain.
• Depending on the soil acidity and temperature, bones will take anything from 25 to 500 years to dissolve.

Death is common to all mankind and through careful study of decomposition, doctors and investigators can discover how a person died and in the case of murder, pinpoint the cause of death and approximate time.

Understanding the process of decay can help a person make a choice over whether they would prefer their body to be buried or cremated upon their death.

Reference :

The Good Death Guide by Michael Dunn, How to Books Ltd, 2000, ISBN 1-85703-559-3