A body undergoes complex and intricate changes after death. These post mortem changes depend on a diverse range of variables. Factors such as the ambient temperature, season, and geographical location at which the body is found, the fat content of the body, sepsis/injuries, intoxication, presence of clothes/insulation over the body, etc. determine the rate at which post-mortem changes occur in a cadaver. Understanding the post mortem changes is imperative to estimate the time since death (TSD) or the post mortem interval (PMI). This chapter is written in with a view of explaining the various changes that occur in a human once they are dead, their time of onset, their rate, and the factors influencing them.
Copyright © 2024, StatPearls Publishing LLC.