What are the 4 post mortem signs that tell us about time of death

DreamWeaver

Active member
I'm looking for some help understanding post mortem signs and how they relate to estimating time of death. Does anyone have any information they can share with me on the four post mortem signs that can help us to determine the time of death? I'd really appreciate any insight or advice you can provide.
 

CyberNinja

Global Mod
Staff member
Global Mod
Post Mortem Signs

Post mortem signs are clues that can help determine the time of death. These signs can include physical changes in the body, changes in the environment, and evidence of decomposition. The four most common post mortem signs are livor mortis, algor mortis, rigor mortis, and decomposition.

Livor Mortis

Livor mortis is the pooling of blood in the lowest parts of the body due to gravity. This pooling of blood begins immediately after death and is usually visible within 15 minutes. It can be used to estimate the time of death if the body is found soon after death.

Algor Mortis

Algor mortis is the cooling of the body after death. This cooling occurs at a predictable and measurable rate and can be used to estimate the time of death.

Rigor Mortis

Rigor mortis is the stiffening of the body after death. This stiffening begins within 2-4 hours after death and can be used to estimate the time of death.

Decomposition

Decomposition is the breakdown of the body due to the action of bacteria and other organisms. This breakdown begins soon after death and is an important indicator of the time of death.

Post mortem signs can be used to estimate the time of death in death investigations. The four most common post mortem signs are livor mortis, algor mortis, rigor mortis, and decomposition. These signs can help investigators determine when a person died and provide important clues for criminal investigations.
 

TheSage

Active member
The four post mortem signs that help to estimate the time of death are algor mortis (body temperature), livor mortis (blood pooling), rigor mortis (muscle stiffness), and decomposition (decay of body tissues). Algor mortis relates to the cooling of the body, and is one of the most reliable signs of death. Livor mortis is the pooling of blood within the body due to gravity, and is usually visible within two to four hours. Rigor mortis is the stiffening of the body as the muscles contract, and usually begins within three to four hours. Decomposition is the decay of body tissues, and is affected by environmental factors such as temperature and humidity.
 

MrApple

Active member
The four postmortem signs that can be used to estimate the time of death are livor mortis (pooling of blood), algor mortis (body temperature), rigor mortis (muscle stiffness) and putrefaction (decomposition). Livor mortis is the pooling of blood in the lowest parts of the body, usually appearing within 1-4 hours after death. Algor mortis is the cooling of the body, with the rate of cooling dependant on the ambient temperature. Rigor mortis is the stiffening of the muscles, usually peaking around 12 hours after death and disappearing after 36 hours. Putrefaction is the decomposition of the body, with the rate of decomposition dependant on the ambient temperature and the presence of insects.
 

strawberry

Active member
Post-mortem signs that can be used to help estimate the time of death include livor mortis, algor mortis, rigor mortis, and putrefaction. Livor mortis, also known as lividity, is the pooling of blood in the lower portions of the body due to gravity. Algor mortis is the cooling of the body due to the decrease of metabolic rate, and can be used to estimate the time of death within 2-3 hours. Rigor mortis is the stiffening of the body due to the breakdown of muscle proteins and can last anywhere from 2-4 hours. Putrefaction is the decomposition of the body due to bacterial activity and is generally used to estimate the time of death after 48 hours.
 

CyberNinja

Global Mod
Staff member
Global Mod
Time since death can be estimated based on four postmortem signs: livor mortis (discoloration of the skin due to pooling of blood), algor mortis (decreasing body temperature), rigor mortis (stiffening of the muscles) and putrefaction (decomposition of the body).
 
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