390:
pumping and there is no pulse. In the brain, this can be manifested by a hypoxic state which leads to cerebral edema and thus an increase in intracranial pressure. The rise in intracranial pressure can lead to further disruption in cerebral blood flow, leading to necrosis or tissue death. The aforementioned mechanism is the most common cause of brain death, however this increase in intracranial pressure does not always occur due to an arrest in cardiopulmonary function. Traumatic brain injuries and subarachnoid hemorrhages can also increase the intracranial pressure in the brain leading to a cessation of brain function and hence death. While cardiopulmonary death can be easily assessed by looking for the presence of a pulse, or identifying electrical activity through EKG tracings, assessment of brain death is slightly more nuanced. Per the United
Kingdom Medical Royal Colleges, a diagnosis of brain death is a two-fold process including 1) identifying the cause of irreversible brain damage and excluding reversible causes of brain damage and 2) conducting a series of clinical and laboratory tests to assess brain stem function.
426:
434:
86:
598:
145:
45:
389:
The heart and lungs are vital organs for human life due to their ability to properly oxygenate human blood (lungs) and distribute this blood to all vital organs (heart). Hence failure of the heart to pump blood or the lungs to obtain oxygen can lead to a cardiopulmonary death where the heart stops
441:
Post-mortem changes refer to the series of changes that occur to a body after death. These changes can generally be divided between early post-mortem changes and late post-mortem changes (also known as decomposition). These changes occur along a continuum and can be helpful in determining the
329:
Prior to the 1980s, the legal standard defined death as the absence of cardiopulmonary function including the loss of all vital signs. However, as medical technology advanced, there were situations where one might lose brain function and maintain cardiopulmonary function. This led the
321:
in the early 20th century. Thanatology focuses on describing postmortem bodily modifications, as well as perspectives concerning psychosocial, medical, ethical, and spiritual aspects of death.
583:, the natural preservation of the skeletal remains formed over a very long period. This stage may not occur, depending on the circumstances and the conditions of the surrounding environment.
405:, corresponding to death of the person, which has varying definitions but most commonly describes a lack of vital signs and brain function. Death at the level of cells, called
1076:"Diagnosis of brain death. Statement issued by the honorary secretary of the Conference of Medical Royal Colleges and their Faculties in the United Kingdom on 11 October 1976"
1020:"Diagnosis of death. Memorandum issued by the honorary secretary of the Conference of Medical Royal Colleges and their Faculties in the United Kingdom on 15 January 1979"
549:
are called "early postmortem" changes, in distinction from the "immediate postmortem" changes associated with the cessation of bodily functions, as indicated by
676:
Stage 3: Advanced
Decomposition – This stage brings further discoloration to the body. The gases from bacterial decay begin to escape, causing a strong odor.
811:"The Uniform Interstate and International Procedure Act Approved by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws: A New Era Commences"
346:(UDDA). Under this law, death can be defined as the loss of cardiopulmonary function or the loss of brain function including the brainstem and cortex.
682:
Stage 5: Extreme
Decomposition – Advancing of the skeletonization with bleaching, exfoliation, and loss of wide portions of long bone.
413:, follows a matter of hours later. These distinctions, and the independence of physicians certifying legal death, are significant in
272:
537:; the adoption of brain death as a definition has lessened the centrality of these signs. In a clearer contemporary terminology,
1372:
1259:
1232:
1202:
1175:
733:
654:
have had varying numbers of discrete stages. A 5-stage process developed by
Galloway and colleagues that is commonly used in
482:, the reduction in body temperature following death. This is generally a steady decline until matching ambient temperature
17:
343:
1486:
1456:
637:
186:
126:
72:
506:
Of these, with obvious mortal damage to the body, the textbook conclusive signs of death clear to a lay person are:
615:
58:
619:
301:
applies to the fate of all kinds of remains of organisms. Forensic taphonomy is concerned with remains of the
265:
331:
161:
335:
258:
608:
425:
339:
1222:
1192:
1165:
577:, the end of decomposition, where all soft tissues have decomposed, leaving only the skeleton.
1362:
1249:
723:
665:
Stage 2: Early
Decomposition – Bacteria grow throughout the body, releasing gases, including
472:, or dependent lividity, a settling of the blood in the lower (dependent) portion of the body
290:
916:
651:
108:
64:
31:
8:
692:
104:
1248:
Pollak, Andrew N.; Browner, Bruce D.; Surgeons, American
Academy of Orthopaedic (2002).
318:
1422:
1389:
1316:
1300:
1108:
1052:
952:
892:
840:
783:
750:
655:
571:, the reduction into simpler forms of matter, accompanied by a strong, unpleasant odor.
362:
1224:
Forensic
Pathology for Police, Death Investigators, Attorneys, and Forensic Scientists
679:
Stage 4: Skeletonization – The internal organs liquefy and the body begins to dry out.
1462:
1452:
1427:
1409:
1368:
1343:
1308:
1292:
1255:
1228:
1198:
1171:
1140:
1113:
1095:
1057:
1039:
1001:
993:
944:
936:
897:
879:
832:
788:
770:
729:
662:
Stage 1: Fresh – about half of bodies show signs of lividity and no signs of insects.
414:
398:
1320:
956:
1417:
1401:
1284:
1103:
1087:
1047:
1031:
983:
928:
887:
871:
822:
778:
762:
697:
1405:
702:
574:
449:
241:
1335:
433:
1132:
554:
372:
1480:
1413:
1296:
1099:
1075:
1043:
997:
940:
932:
883:
836:
774:
568:
457:
298:
236:
211:
1466:
1091:
1019:
342:
to come together in the 1980s to expand the definition of death through the
1431:
1347:
1312:
1144:
1035:
948:
901:
792:
499:
487:
477:
467:
231:
226:
221:
216:
1005:
988:
971:
1446:
1117:
1061:
766:
550:
394:
382:
314:
1304:
1131:
Shedge, Rutwik; Krishan, Kewal; Warrier, Varsha; Kanchan, Tanuj (2021),
859:
875:
666:
622: in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
525:
may refer to the ending of breathing, heartbeat and circulation, or to
442:
post-mortem interval, which is the time between death and examination.
376:
302:
844:
366:
355:
294:
597:
158:
excessive human-centricity; much less mention of animals and plants.
1288:
827:
810:
670:
401:, vary according to the jurisdiction. The certification applies to
1444:
1390:"Recent advances in forensic anthropology: decomposition research"
1191:
Peitzman, Andrew B.; Rhodes, Michael; Schwab, C. William (2008).
94:
1275:
Fox, Renée C. (1981). "The Sting of Death in
American Society".
751:"Definitions of death: brain death and what matters in a person"
462:, paleness which happens in the first 15–120 minutes after death
580:
558:
246:
1448:
Forensic taphonomy : the postmortem fate of human remains
1130:
722:
Sorg, Marcella H.; Haglund, William D. (13 December 1996).
340:
National
Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws
1251:
725:
Forensic Taphonomy: The Postmortem Fate of Human Remains
1227:. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 163.
1247:
972:"Determining brain death in adults [RETIRED]"
349:
1190:
1445:William D. Haglund; Marcella H. Sorg, eds. (1997).
1334:Almulhim, Abdulaziz M.; Menezes, Ritesh G. (2020).
1361:Saukko, Pekka; Knight, Bernard (4 November 2015).
1197:. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 415.
429:Timeline of postmortem changes (stages of death).
1478:
1194:The Trauma Manual: Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
1167:Principles of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
445:The stages that follow shortly after death are:
1333:
1139:, Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing,
804:
802:
289:of a human being have medical, biochemical and
492:, the limbs of the corpse become stiff (Latin
27:Seven stages that occur after an organism dies
1254:. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 19.
266:
30:For the Kübler–Ross psychological model, see
1360:
799:
564:Those stages are followed, in taphonomy, by
354:Signs of death or strong indications that a
721:
485:
475:
465:
455:
73:Learn how and when to remove these messages
273:
259:
1421:
1107:
1051:
987:
891:
826:
782:
638:Learn how and when to remove this message
437:An example of postmortem corneal opacity.
187:Learn how and when to remove this message
127:Learn how and when to remove this message
969:
914:
432:
424:
1387:
1220:
1163:
857:
815:The American Journal of Comparative Law
587:
154:needs attention from an expert in Death
14:
1479:
748:
673:the body and cause an unpleasant odor.
502:, the beginning signs of decomposition
420:
324:
313:The academic study of death is called
164:may be able to help recruit an expert.
1388:Wescott, Daniel J. (13 August 2018).
1216:
1214:
1086:(6045): 1187–1188. 13 November 1976.
915:Spinello, Irene M. (September 2015).
858:Machado, Calixto (25 February 2010).
496:) and difficult to move or manipulate
1221:Prahlow, Joseph A. (10 March 2010).
808:
620:adding citations to reliable sources
591:
397:, and its formal documentation in a
138:
79:
38:
1274:
24:
1336:"Evaluation of Postmortem Changes"
1211:
921:Journal of Intensive Care Medicine
755:Journal of Law and the Biosciences
350:Clinical signs and stages of death
344:Uniform Determination of Death Act
105:improve coverage for other species
25:
1498:
970:Wijdicks, Eelco F.M. (May 1995).
54:This article has multiple issues.
1164:Bardale, Rajesh (October 2011).
596:
143:
84:
43:
1438:
1381:
1354:
1327:
1268:
1241:
1184:
1157:
749:Sarbey, Ben (1 December 2016).
607:needs additional citations for
62:or discuss these issues on the
1124:
1068:
1030:(6159): 332. 3 February 1979.
1012:
963:
908:
851:
742:
715:
557:, changes to the blood in the
107:and discuss this issue on the
13:
1:
1406:10.1080/20961790.2018.1488571
1170:. Wife Goes On. p. 133.
708:
332:American Medical Association
7:
1364:Knight's Forensic Pathology
917:"Brain Death Determination"
686:
156:. The specific problem is:
10:
1503:
1394:Forensic Sciences Research
860:"Diagnosis of brain death"
338:in collaboration with the
308:
29:
1451:. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
1367:. CRC Press. p. 57.
1342:. StatPearls Publishing.
728:. CRC Press. p. 13.
99:excessively human-centric
1487:Medical aspects of death
933:10.1177/0885066613511053
358:is no longer alive are:
336:American Bar Association
1092:10.1136/bmj.2.6045.1187
864:Neurology International
523:cardinal signs of death
317:, a field pioneered by
1036:10.1136/bmj.1.6159.332
486:
476:
466:
456:
438:
430:
385:(no neuronal activity)
1277:Social Service Review
989:10.1212/wnl.45.5.1003
561:are quickly visible.
436:
428:
1133:"Postmortem Changes"
616:improve this article
588:Decomposition stages
518:, and putrefaction.
32:five stages of grief
809:Smit, Hans (1962).
693:Suspended animation
658:is detailed below:
421:Post-mortem changes
356:warm-blooded animal
325:Definition of death
93:This article about
18:Post-mortem changes
876:10.4081/ni.2010.e2
767:10.1093/jlb/lsw054
656:forensic pathology
439:
431:
393:The definition of
363:Respiratory arrest
293:aspects. The term
1374:978-1-4441-6508-1
1261:978-0-7637-2046-9
1234:978-1-59745-404-9
1204:978-0-7817-6275-5
1177:978-93-5025-493-6
735:978-1-4398-2192-3
648:
647:
640:
415:organ procurement
399:death certificate
283:
282:
197:
196:
189:
179:
178:
162:WikiProject Death
137:
136:
129:
77:
16:(Redirected from
1494:
1471:
1470:
1442:
1436:
1435:
1425:
1385:
1379:
1378:
1358:
1352:
1351:
1331:
1325:
1324:
1272:
1266:
1265:
1245:
1239:
1238:
1218:
1209:
1208:
1188:
1182:
1181:
1161:
1155:
1154:
1153:
1151:
1128:
1122:
1121:
1111:
1072:
1066:
1065:
1055:
1016:
1010:
1009:
991:
982:(5): 1003–1011.
967:
961:
960:
912:
906:
905:
895:
855:
849:
848:
830:
806:
797:
796:
786:
746:
740:
739:
719:
698:Lazarus syndrome
669:, which in turn
650:Descriptions of
643:
636:
632:
629:
623:
600:
592:
491:
481:
471:
461:
319:Élie Metchnikoff
275:
268:
261:
199:
198:
192:
185:
174:
171:
165:
147:
146:
139:
132:
125:
121:
118:
112:
88:
87:
80:
69:
47:
46:
39:
21:
1502:
1501:
1497:
1496:
1495:
1493:
1492:
1491:
1477:
1476:
1475:
1474:
1459:
1443:
1439:
1386:
1382:
1375:
1359:
1355:
1332:
1328:
1273:
1269:
1262:
1246:
1242:
1235:
1219:
1212:
1205:
1189:
1185:
1178:
1162:
1158:
1149:
1147:
1129:
1125:
1074:
1073:
1069:
1018:
1017:
1013:
968:
964:
913:
909:
856:
852:
807:
800:
747:
743:
736:
720:
716:
711:
703:Cadaveric spasm
689:
644:
633:
627:
624:
613:
601:
590:
575:Skeletonization
450:Corneal opacity
423:
407:molecular death
352:
327:
311:
287:stages of death
279:
242:Skeletonization
203:Stages of death
193:
182:
181:
180:
175:
169:
166:
160:
148:
144:
133:
122:
116:
113:
102:
89:
85:
48:
44:
35:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1500:
1490:
1489:
1473:
1472:
1457:
1437:
1400:(4): 327–342.
1380:
1373:
1353:
1326:
1289:10.1086/643890
1267:
1260:
1240:
1233:
1210:
1203:
1183:
1176:
1156:
1123:
1067:
1011:
962:
927:(6): 326–337.
907:
850:
828:10.2307/838593
821:(3): 415–417.
798:
761:(3): 743–752.
741:
734:
713:
712:
710:
707:
706:
705:
700:
695:
688:
685:
684:
683:
680:
677:
674:
663:
646:
645:
628:September 2020
604:
602:
595:
589:
586:
585:
584:
578:
572:
555:ophthalmoscope
504:
503:
497:
483:
473:
463:
453:
422:
419:
387:
386:
380:
373:Cardiac arrest
370:
351:
348:
326:
323:
310:
307:
281:
280:
278:
277:
270:
263:
255:
252:
251:
250:
249:
244:
239:
234:
229:
224:
219:
214:
206:
205:
195:
194:
177:
176:
151:
149:
142:
135:
134:
92:
90:
83:
78:
52:
51:
49:
42:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1499:
1488:
1485:
1484:
1482:
1468:
1464:
1460:
1458:0-8493-9434-1
1454:
1450:
1449:
1441:
1433:
1429:
1424:
1419:
1415:
1411:
1407:
1403:
1399:
1395:
1391:
1384:
1376:
1370:
1366:
1365:
1357:
1349:
1345:
1341:
1337:
1330:
1322:
1318:
1314:
1310:
1306:
1302:
1298:
1294:
1290:
1286:
1282:
1278:
1271:
1263:
1257:
1253:
1252:
1244:
1236:
1230:
1226:
1225:
1217:
1215:
1206:
1200:
1196:
1195:
1187:
1179:
1173:
1169:
1168:
1160:
1146:
1142:
1138:
1134:
1127:
1119:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1101:
1097:
1093:
1089:
1085:
1081:
1077:
1071:
1063:
1059:
1054:
1049:
1045:
1041:
1037:
1033:
1029:
1025:
1021:
1015:
1007:
1003:
999:
995:
990:
985:
981:
977:
973:
966:
958:
954:
950:
946:
942:
938:
934:
930:
926:
922:
918:
911:
903:
899:
894:
889:
885:
881:
877:
873:
869:
865:
861:
854:
846:
842:
838:
834:
829:
824:
820:
816:
812:
805:
803:
794:
790:
785:
780:
776:
772:
768:
764:
760:
756:
752:
745:
737:
731:
727:
726:
718:
714:
704:
701:
699:
696:
694:
691:
690:
681:
678:
675:
672:
668:
664:
661:
660:
659:
657:
653:
652:decomposition
642:
639:
631:
621:
617:
611:
610:
605:This section
603:
599:
594:
593:
582:
581:Fossilization
579:
576:
573:
570:
569:Decomposition
567:
566:
565:
562:
560:
556:
552:
548:
544:
540:
536:
532:
528:
524:
519:
517:
513:
509:
501:
498:
495:
490:
489:
484:
480:
479:
474:
470:
469:
464:
460:
459:
458:Pallor mortis
454:
452:or "clouding"
451:
448:
447:
446:
443:
435:
427:
418:
416:
412:
408:
404:
403:somatic death
400:
396:
391:
384:
381:
378:
374:
371:
368:
364:
361:
360:
359:
357:
347:
345:
341:
337:
333:
322:
320:
316:
306:
304:
300:
299:palaeontology
296:
292:
288:
276:
271:
269:
264:
262:
257:
256:
254:
253:
248:
247:Fossilization
245:
243:
240:
238:
237:Decomposition
235:
233:
230:
228:
225:
223:
220:
218:
215:
213:
212:Pallor mortis
210:
209:
208:
207:
204:
201:
200:
191:
188:
173:
170:December 2023
163:
159:
155:
152:This article
150:
141:
140:
131:
128:
120:
117:December 2023
110:
106:
100:
96:
91:
82:
81:
76:
74:
67:
66:
61:
60:
55:
50:
41:
40:
37:
33:
19:
1447:
1440:
1397:
1393:
1383:
1363:
1356:
1339:
1329:
1283:(1): 47–48.
1280:
1276:
1270:
1250:
1243:
1223:
1193:
1186:
1166:
1159:
1150:13 September
1148:, retrieved
1136:
1126:
1083:
1079:
1070:
1027:
1023:
1014:
979:
975:
965:
924:
920:
910:
867:
863:
853:
818:
814:
758:
754:
744:
724:
717:
649:
634:
625:
614:Please help
609:verification
606:
563:
547:rigor mortis
546:
543:livor mortis
542:
539:algor mortis
538:
535:rigor mortis
534:
531:livor mortis
530:
527:algor mortis
526:
522:
520:
516:livor mortis
515:
512:rigor mortis
511:
508:algor mortis
507:
505:
500:Putrefaction
493:
488:Rigor mortis
478:Algor mortis
468:Livor mortis
444:
440:
410:
406:
402:
392:
388:
353:
328:
312:
286:
284:
232:Putrefaction
227:Rigor mortis
222:Algor mortis
217:Livor mortis
202:
183:
167:
157:
153:
123:
114:
98:
70:
63:
57:
56:Please help
53:
36:
551:vital signs
395:legal death
383:Brain death
315:thanatology
1340:StatPearls
1137:StatPearls
709:References
667:cadaverine
553:. With an
411:cell death
303:human body
59:improve it
1414:2096-1790
1297:0037-7961
1100:0959-8138
1044:0959-8138
998:0028-3878
976:Neurology
941:0885-0666
884:2035-8377
837:0002-919X
775:2053-9711
367:breathing
295:taphonomy
109:talk page
65:talk page
1481:Category
1467:35236386
1432:30788450
1348:32119351
1321:33834100
1313:10250829
1305:30011444
1145:30969563
957:39103031
949:24227449
902:21577338
870:(1): 2.
793:28852554
687:See also
1423:6374978
1109:1689565
1053:1597667
1006:7746373
893:3093212
784:5570697
309:History
103:Please
97:may be
95:biology
1465:
1455:
1430:
1420:
1412:
1371:
1346:
1319:
1311:
1303:
1295:
1258:
1231:
1201:
1174:
1143:
1118:990836
1116:
1106:
1098:
1062:421104
1060:
1050:
1042:
1004:
996:
955:
947:
939:
900:
890:
882:
845:838593
843:
835:
791:
781:
773:
732:
559:retina
334:, the
1317:S2CID
1301:JSTOR
953:S2CID
841:JSTOR
671:bloat
494:rigor
377:pulse
297:from
291:legal
1463:OCLC
1453:ISBN
1428:PMID
1410:ISSN
1369:ISBN
1344:PMID
1309:PMID
1293:ISSN
1256:ISBN
1229:ISBN
1199:ISBN
1172:ISBN
1152:2021
1141:PMID
1114:PMID
1096:ISSN
1058:PMID
1040:ISSN
1002:PMID
994:ISSN
945:PMID
937:ISSN
898:PMID
880:ISSN
833:ISSN
789:PMID
771:ISSN
730:ISBN
545:and
533:and
521:The
375:(no
365:(no
285:The
1418:PMC
1402:doi
1285:doi
1104:PMC
1088:doi
1080:BMJ
1048:PMC
1032:doi
1024:BMJ
984:doi
929:doi
888:PMC
872:doi
823:doi
779:PMC
763:doi
618:by
409:or
1483::
1461:.
1426:.
1416:.
1408:.
1396:.
1392:.
1338:.
1315:.
1307:.
1299:.
1291:.
1281:55
1279:.
1213:^
1135:,
1112:.
1102:.
1094:.
1082:.
1078:.
1056:.
1046:.
1038:.
1026:.
1022:.
1000:.
992:.
980:45
978:.
974:.
951:.
943:.
935:.
925:30
923:.
919:.
896:.
886:.
878:.
866:.
862:.
839:.
831:.
819:11
817:.
813:.
801:^
787:.
777:.
769:.
757:.
753:.
541:,
529:,
514:,
510:,
417:.
305:.
68:.
1469:.
1434:.
1404::
1398:3
1377:.
1350:.
1323:.
1287::
1264:.
1237:.
1207:.
1180:.
1120:.
1090::
1084:2
1064:.
1034::
1028:1
1008:.
986::
959:.
931::
904:.
874::
868:2
847:.
825::
795:.
765::
759:3
738:.
641:)
635:(
630:)
626:(
612:.
379:)
369:)
274:e
267:t
260:v
190:)
184:(
172:)
168:(
130:)
124:(
119:)
115:(
111:.
101:.
75:)
71:(
34:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.