Determination of the Moment of Death

Postmortem Changes and Their Timeline

Accurately determining the moment of death is crucial in forensic medicine. Postmortem changes provide essential clues in estimating the time of death.

Stages of Postmortem Changes

1. Immediate Signs of Death

• Loss of consciousness: Brain activity ceases instantly.
• Absence of pulse and respiration: The heart stops beating, and oxygen circulation halts.

2. Early Postmortem Changes

• Pallor Mortis: Pale discoloration occurs within 15–30 minutes.
• Algor Mortis: Body temperature gradually matches ambient temperature within hours.
• Rigor Mortis: Muscle stiffness begins in 2–6 hours and lasts up to 48 hours.

3. Late Postmortem Changes

• Livor Mortis: Blood pooling causes discoloration within 30 minutes to 4 hours.
• Putrefaction: Decomposition starts in 24–72 hours.
• Skeletalization: Advanced decomposition leads to complete skeletonization over months to years.

Conclusion

Postmortem changes occur in a predictable sequence, aiding forensic experts in estimating the time of death.