Algor mortis refers to what postmortem change?

Algor mortis refers to what postmortem change?

• A. The stiffening of the muscles after death.
• B. Pooling of blood on dependent areas due to gravity.
• C. The decomposition accelerates due to microbial activity.
• D. The reduction of body temperature to the surrounding environment after death.

Answer: (D)

Algor mortis is the cooling of the body after death as it loses heat to the surrounding environment. Once circulation stops and metabolism ceases, the body stops generating heat, so its temperature gradually drops until it matches ambient temperature. The rate of cooling depends on factors like the environmental temperature, clothing or coverings, body size and fat/muscle composition, air movement, and humidity. The other listed processes refer to different postmortem changes: rigor mortis is the stiffening of muscles, livor mortis is the pooling of blood in dependent areas due to gravity, and decomposition is the breakdown of tissues by microbial activity. Algor mortis is specifically the temperature change aspect of the postmortem timeline.

Algor mortis is the cooling of the body after death as it loses heat to the surrounding environment. Once circulation stops and metabolism ceases, the body stops generating heat, so its temperature gradually drops until it matches ambient temperature. The rate of cooling depends on factors like the environmental temperature, clothing or coverings, body size and fat/muscle composition, air movement, and humidity. The other listed processes refer to different postmortem changes: rigor mortis is the stiffening of muscles, livor mortis is the pooling of blood in dependent areas due to gravity, and decomposition is the breakdown of tissues by microbial activity. Algor mortis is specifically the temperature change aspect of the postmortem timeline.