How death comes. Cooling (heating) time How long the body remains warm after death

Cadaveric cooling ( lat.- algor mortis) - a decrease in body temperature that occurs after death. The decrease in body temperature occurs until it equalizes with the ambient temperature.

Corpse cooling periods

Dynamics of the deep body temperature

Currently, traditionally, there are three periods of corpse cooling:

1. Period of disordered (irregular) cooling(according to the definition of L. Althaus, C. Hennsge - "temperature plateau") - the first few hours after death.
2. The period of regular cooling of the corpse- the corpse cools down according to the law, mathematically described by exponential equations (usually from 4-5 to 12-24 hours after death).
3. The period of equalization of the temperatures of the corpse and the environment- usually 2036 hours after death, the temperature of the corpse is compared with the ambient temperature and the cooling of the body stops.

The specified duration of the listed periods is conditional and in each case depends on many factors.

The initial (lifetime) body temperature is also a fairly variable value and may differ slightly from person to person. various people. Moreover, even for the same person, it can vary depending on the time of day, the degree of emotional and physical stress, the day menstrual cycle(in women) and many other reasons. Depending on the cause of death (variant of thanatogenesis), dying can occur against the background of normal in vivo temperature (normothermic variant), its increase (hyperthermic variant) or decrease (hypothermic variant of thanatogenesis).

Factors affecting the rate of decrease in body temperature

The rate of change in body temperature depends on many factors.

External factors

• Ambient temperature, its stability or fluctuations.
• Temperature, heat capacity and thermal conductivity of the bodies with which the corpse contacts (the so-called substrate).
• Air humidity.
• Air movement (wind).
• Clothing and other items that isolate the corpse from the external environment.
• The presence of an external source infrared radiation(direct Sun rays, heaters, etc.).

Internal factors

• Body temperature at the time of death.
• Body mass.
• The degree of expression of subcutaneous adipose tissue.
• The presence of blood loss.

Mathematical models of cadaveric cooling

For practical application within the framework of the thermal method of establishing the prescription of death, in order to achieve the minimum calculation error, only models based on exponential dependence can be recommended.

Linear Models

Parabolic Models

S-shaped models

Exponential Models

One of the most widespread models of post-mortem cooling of a corpse in the world is the two-exponential model of cooling of a corpse by Brown-Marshall (Brown and Marshall) modified by K. Henssge. Allows you to set the prescription of death, depending on body weight, rectal temperature, temperature and humidity of the environment, the presence and type of clothing.

In 2011 published a new medical technology "Diagnosis of the prescription of death by thermometric method in the early post-mortem period" (Kildyushov E.M., Vavilov A.Yu., Kulikov V.A., 2011) Used to determine the prescription of death on the basis of two or four measurements temperature of the rectum, liver or brain.

What is indeterminate in the human world? Taxes, economy, credit system, ? Yes, this is always difficult to understand, but none of this list can overcome death by the criterion of uncertainty and mystery. And if we talk about our interaction with society, then we rarely have direct contact with death. Accidents, hospices and hospitals. We prefer not to notice this integral side human life. But then the "old woman with a scythe" rapidly turns in our direction, and there is no time for reflection.

There is a healthy interest in death in many cultures. In the period of the 19th century, with the development of natural philosophy, anatomy and decadent literature, this interest was also characteristic of European culture. But now we have become more sensitive, more closed, and those guys who look at corpses with interest, perhaps, are unfairly called creepy perverts, sick in the head. But each of us is destined to touch death, whether we like it or not.

1. Stages of death

Let's start with the basics, which will be guiding stars for you in the world of decay and decay (it sounds strange somehow).

clinical death

Your vital functions go to waste, your heartbeat and breathing stop. The activity of the brain is actually still active, because some people think that clinical death is a boundary between life and death. Actually, there is a possibility that you will be brought back to life if you are reanimated properly.

biological death

The embalming liquid consists of formaldehyde, methanol and a couple of other components. It usually contains water, but the most effective and expensive embalming methods are waterless. They keep the body much better. The composition of the liquid may contain various dyes, so that instead of deathly pallor, we see a healthy blush. So it is always matched to the color of the skin.

The principle of operation is simple. A small incision is made in the neck, armpit or inguinal region for access to the carotid, brachial and femoral arteries. The embalming fluid is pumped into the machine and swapped with blood. This process takes about an hour. While all this is going on, the corpse is given a wonderful massage in order to break up any blood clots and speed up the process. The fluid is then drained from the main cavity in the body and replaced with another to slow decomposition. Depending on the religion, the outer shell is washed by the undertaker, Sikh, family, or imam.

6 Embalming #2: A Helping Hand

We love our dead. We even say: “About the dead, it’s either good or nothing.” And when preparing the body for "leaving" we prepare it more thoroughly than when preparing ourselves for the first job interview.

The nose and mouth have to be filled with cotton wool to avoid moisture seepage. Also, the mouth is sewn or sealed. If there are any wounds on the skin, then the body is wrapped in plastic, and only then in a suit. Small plastic cups are inserted under the eyelids to prevent the possibility of open or hollow eyes. In addition, the latter is done in order to avoid the "cry of the dead." And this is not only creepy, but also sad for the family. In general, everything is done in order to maintain the illusion of "normality", the familiar appearance of a person.

7. Decomposition #1: Self-digestion

No matter how much embalming fluid you pour into a dead body, it will still begin to decompose, especially if the death happened on fresh air. Decomposition begins within minutes of death. After the blood stops flowing through the body, oxygen starvation makes itself known. Enzymes begin to digest cell membranes. This in the meantime causes discoloration.

Next comes rigor mortis, nucleic acids break down proteins in muscle fibers. As soon as the muscles begin to break down more intensively, rigor mortis disappears and the body becomes elastic again. The trillions of bacteria living in the human body throughout life will be free again. Cell membranes begin to degrade, giving rise to their own decomposition process.

8 Decay #2: Rotting

The next stage of decomposition, when the bacteria are slightly carried away.
First stage self-digestion forms a lot of sugars, salts, liquids and anaerobic bacteria that have recently been released from prison-guts. In general, bacteria feed on, ferment sugars, and form all sorts of impure gases such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. As the bacteria begin to break down the hemoglobin in the blood, they turn the skin into a mottled dark green color.

All these gas generating processes cause the body to inflate like a balloon of horror. This is called "bombing". As a result, the pressure in the body will accumulate, and gases and liquids will begin to flow out of each hole (each, yes). But it can “fortune” and then the whole thing will explode. It is at these moments that the skin begins to loosen, and black spots appear on the body.

9 Decay #3: Colonization

At some certain moment, the organism becomes simply irresistible for any creature that is looking for perfect place to lay eggs. Flies lay hundreds of eggs that hatch into hundreds of maggots. The giant, writhing mass of larvae can raise body temperature by 10 degrees Celsius. And this means that the larvae have to constantly change their place of deployment so as not to boil in the body.

Subsequently, they grow into flies, and those, in turn, lay eggs again. This process is repeated until all the flesh and skin is used up. However, the larvae will attract their own antagonists, all kinds of predators such as birds, ants, wasps and spiders. An entire ecosystem is created around the decaying body. Larger scavengers, of course, can stop all this disgrace in a couple of hours, for example, if we are talking about a flock of vultures.

You should also remember about the skull of a corpse, which is saturated with nitrogen. It is so rich in it that it kills surrounding plants nearby. But after a while, the soil becomes, on the contrary, extremely fertile, which helps the growth of fungi, plants, and the like.

In the end, all human energy returns to nature, to where it found its birth. It's even beautiful if you can bear the image of horribly rotting corpses.

10. Burial

However, in most cases, we do not leave the body in the street. We come up with bizarre religious buildings for them, ways of burial.

When you cremate a body, you think you are making life easier for yourself. But this is easier said than done. Because the body burns at an incredibly high temperature, over 1000 degrees Celsius. To burn a man normal size, you will need about 90 minutes, and if we are talking about a person with a lot of body fat, this procedure will take several hours. The ashes are then crushed to get rid of the large bone fragments and any metal implants.

What type of soil to choose? It directly depends on how you decompose. Heavy clay soils will help protect against oxygen, which means slowing down the decomposition process. Loose soils, on the contrary, will speed up this process. It usually takes 10-15 years.

In very hot, dry conditions, bacteria cannot destroy body tissues, they simply dehydrate them. When the ancient Egyptians buried their dead in the hot desert sand, the bodies were preserved much more efficiently than in the cold darkness of the pyramid tombs. That is why, as many believe, embalming was invented.

Ultimately, all organs are destroyed, decomposed and return their energy to nature. You borrowed all this from her initially, and therefore you have no other choice.

What happens in the coffin with the body after it is buried? This question is of interest not only to those who are fond of mysticism and anatomy. Almost every person on the planet often thinks about this. With the process of burial and further development body tied a large number of myths and interesting facts which little is known. In our article you can find information that will allow you to learn more about what happens to the corpse throughout the time when it is underground and above it.

General information about processes

Death is a natural process, which, unfortunately, cannot yet be prevented. Today, how the decomposition of the body in the coffin takes place is known only to those who have medical education. However, detailed information about such a process is also of interest to many inquisitive people. It is worth noting that a variety of processes take place in the corpse immediately after the onset of death. These include temperature changes and oxygen starvation. Already a few minutes after death, organs and cells begin to collapse.

Many torment themselves with the thought of what happens in the coffin with the body. Decomposition, depending on many factors, can proceed in completely different ways. There are more than five processes that, due to certain circumstances, occur in a particular body. Surprisingly, the putrid smell is often artificially created by specialized organizations. This is necessary for training search dogs.

Decay and mummification

In our article you can find detailed information about what happens in the coffin with the human body after death. As we said earlier, there are more than five processes that can take place in a particular corpse, depending on a wide variety of factors. The most well-known forms of body development after burial are putrefaction and mummification. Almost everyone has heard about these processes.

Decay is a laborious process that takes place in the body. As a rule, it begins on the third day after death. Simultaneously with decay, the formation of a whole list of gases begins. These include hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and many others. It is for this reason that the corpse emits an unpleasant odor. Depending on the season, the body may decompose slowly or quickly. At air temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius, rotting of a corpse occurs in the shortest possible time. If the body was not buried, then the time of its decomposition on the surface of the earth is 3-4 months. When the decay process comes to an end, only bones remain from the corpse, and everything else turns into a mushy mass and eventually disappears altogether. It should be noted that everything that stands out on this stage absorbs the soil. Thanks to this, she becomes unusually fertile.

What happens in the coffin with the body after death if it is mummified? In this process, the corpse dries completely. An interesting fact is that during mummification, the initial body weight is reduced tenfold. As a rule, such a process takes place in those corpses that have been in conditions of low humidity for a long time. Such places include an attic or, for example, sandy soil. A mummified corpse can persist for quite a long time.

There are only a small number of people who know what happens in the coffin with the human body after death. However, this process is of interest to many. In our article, you can find out more information about how the body develops after death.

Peat tanning and fat wax formation

The process of formation of a fat wax occurs if the corpse is buried in a wet form of soil or has been in water for a long time. As a result, the body is covered with a fatty layer. white color which has a specific and unpleasant odor. Often this process is also called saponification.

Not everyone knows what happens to a person's body after death in a coffin after 2 months if it is buried in excessively moist soil. After 60 days, the corpse begins to crumble and has a white-yellow hue. If the human body is buried in peat soil or is in a swamp, then the skin becomes dense and rough. It is worth noting that when tanned, the corpse acquires a brown tint, and the size of the internal organs is significantly reduced. Over time, the bones become soft and resemble cartilage in their consistency. By the way, peat tanning can also occur due to the influence of certain factors. These include the temperature of the water and the presence of a variety of trace elements and chemicals in it.

The impact of living organisms on a human corpse

In addition to all of the above factors, the human body can be destroyed by the effects of animals, insects and birds. Most apparently, the body of the deceased is destroyed by fly larvae. Surprisingly, they are able to completely destroy the corpse in just two months.

Other living organisms that absorb the body of the deceased are ants, cockroaches and corpse eaters. Termites are able to turn the body into a skeleton in two months. It is no secret that in addition to insects, the human body can be eaten by dogs, wolves, foxes and other predatory animals. In the reservoir, the corpse is destroyed by fish, beetles, crayfish and other aquatic inhabitants.

Explosive coffins

Not everyone knows what happens to a person in a coffin. With the body, as we said earlier, after some time after burial, various changes begin to occur. After a few hours, the corpse begins to release substances, including various gases. In the event that the coffin was not buried, but was placed in a crypt, it may explode. Many cases have been recorded when relatives came to visit the deceased, and he detonated. However, this can only happen if the coffin is hermetically sealed, but not placed in the ground. We strongly recommend that you be careful when visiting the crypts.

self destruction

What happens to the body in the coffin after death after some time? This question is asked not only by doctors and criminologists, but also by ordinary people. Surprisingly, for some time the body absorbs itself. The thing is that in any organism there are millions of a wide variety of bacteria that do not cause any harm during life. First of all, after death, they completely destroy the brain and liver. This is due to the fact that these organs contain the largest number water. After that, the bacteria gradually destroy everything else. It is with this process that the change in the color of the skin of the deceased is associated. After the corpse enters the rigor stage, it is completely filled with bacteria. The time and process of self-destruction may differ depending on the set of microbes in a particular organism.

It is worth noting that some bacteria can only be in the body at a certain stage of decomposition and putrefaction. Surprisingly, under the influence of microorganisms, the tissues of the deceased turn into gases, salts and various substances. By the way, all these trace elements favorably affect the composition of the soil.

Larvae

In our article, you can find out what happens to the body in the coffin after exposure to the larvae. As we said earlier, in addition to bacteria and other microorganisms, tissues and internal organs are also absorbed by insects, animals and birds.

After the stage of self-destruction ends, the corpse begins to destroy the larvae. Surprisingly, the female fly is capable of laying about 250 eggs at a time. It is no secret that the body of the deceased emits a sharp and unpleasant odor. It is he who attracts insects that lay a large number of eggs on the body. A day later, they turn into larvae. Surprisingly, only three flies are able to devour a corpse with the same speed that a tiger or a lion would do.

The location in the body of certain soil elements or certain microorganisms allows forensic scientists to find out where a person died or was killed. They also argue that in the near future it is the bacterial set of the corpse that can become a new "weapon" for solving many crimes.

The soul of man

Some people think they know what happens to the body in the coffin. They argue that after some time the flesh of the deceased leaves the soul, and, dying, a person sees everything that the living do not see. They also believe that the first three days after death are the most difficult for the deceased. The thing is that for 72 hours the soul is still near the body and is trying to return back. She leaves as soon as she sees that the face and body are changing. After this happens, the soul rushes from home to grave for seven days. In addition, she mourns her body.

After seven days, the soul goes to a place of rest. After that, she only occasionally lowers herself to the ground to look at her body. Some believe that they know what happens in the coffin with the body and soul. However, it is impossible to prove that the spirit actually leaves the flesh.

Diamond production

It's hard enough to bear death loved one. Some even find it difficult to imagine what happens in the coffin with the body. Often people cremate their dead relatives or even erect a crypt for them right in the yard. AT recent times the technology invented by American specialists is gaining special popularity. Surprisingly, they create diamonds from the ashes and hair of a deceased person. American experts believe that this is a great way to preserve the memory of the deceased. Today, this technology is used all over the world. As we said earlier, diamonds can also be made from the hair of the deceased. Today, this procedure is extremely popular. Few people know, but quite recently, a company that deals in such jewelry was ordered to make diamonds from Michael Jackson's hair.

It is worth noting that gems can be created from dust due to what it contains carbon dioxide. The cost of such a service in America is 30 thousand dollars. Many believe that one should not torment oneself with the thought of what happens in the coffin with the body. They argue that it is better to keep only good memories of the deceased.

Love after death

Everyone handles the death of a loved one differently. There are many cases when people did not bury the deceased, but left him in their house, hiding it. It is known that his wife died in a man, but he did not want to betray her body to the earth, because he could not let her go because of great love. Surprisingly, he ordered a transparent coffin and placed his beloved in it, after pouring a special liquid into it. Then he built a coffee table out of the coffin.

Another case of strange treatment of a corpse occurred in America. There, the woman decided to make a stuffed animal out of her husband. For the corpse, she set aside an entire room in the basement. There she arranged the furniture and her husband's favorite things. She placed the body on a chair. The woman often visited him, told how the day went and asked for advice.

There used to be a tradition. If a person did not find a mate during his lifetime, then he was married after death. It was believed that if this was not done, then the soul of the deceased would not find a place for itself and would wander forever.

This tradition was also in Russia. If a girl died unmarried, then she was dressed in Wedding Dress and chose a guy who should follow the coffin to burial. It was believed that thanks to this, the soul would find peace. It is worth noting that in some localities this tradition is still popular today.

Necrophilia was common in ancient Egypt. This is no coincidence, because the Egyptians believed the myths, according to which she impregnated herself with the help of the corpse of Osiris.

Summing up

Death is a natural process. A large number of myths, conjectures and interesting facts are associated with it. It's no secret that the loss of a loved one is difficult to bear. Some people become depressed because of this and do not make contact with society. There are many cases where people start to suffer mental disorder. As a rule, they do not bury their relatives, but leave them in the house, hiding this from neighbors and friends. In our article, you found out what happens to the body in the coffin. The photos that we have selected will let you know what happens to a person after death.

In this article we will tell you what processes in the body lead to the end of life and how death occurs. Have you thought about it? After reading, you can leave your opinion on this topic, your comment at the end of the article.

For many of us, death is a process that we can only see on TV and in movies. On the screen, the characters die, and then we see the actors who played their roles in full health.

Death constantly accompanies various news. Celebrities die from overdoses, traffic accidents, ordinary people from accidents and terrorist attacks.

What is death?

AT different times death was defined in different ways. Most often, they said that this is separation and bodies. However, almost everyone is talking about it. But with pure biological point view of death is still difficult to define. Only recently created medical equipment can help to understand whether a person is alive or dead.

This was not the case before. If a person was sick, a doctor or a priest was called to him, who ascertained death. Approximately. That is, if a person does not move and does not seem to be breathing, he is dead. How was it determined that a person was not breathing? A mirror or pen was brought to his mouth. If the mirror fogged up, and the feather moved from breathing, the person is alive, if not, he is dead. In the 18th century, they began to check the pulse on the arm, but the invention of the stethoscope was still far away.

Over time, people realized that, despite the lack of breathing and heartbeat, a person can be alive. Edgar Allan Poe alone wrote several stories about those who were buried alive. In general, it turned out that it can be reversible.

Today we know that there is an apparatus capable of bringing a person back to life. If a person stops breathing, but his heart is still beating, you can stimulate his activity with the help of a defibrillator.

True, the presence of a pulse does not mean that a person is alive. Both doctors and relatives of the dying understood this. If the brain is dead, and cardiac activity is supported by machines in intensive care, then the person is more likely dead than alive. In medical language, this is called an irreversible coma.

It is, of course, difficult for the relatives of a dying person to recognize such a death. They are told that the person has died while he is breathing and his body is radiating heat. At the same time, machines record minimal brain activity, and this gives relatives a false hope that the patient will recover. But brain activity alone is not enough for life.

Despite the fact that death is considered brain death, rarely do you see this conclusion in the form of an official cause of death. More often you can see such as "myocardial infarction", "cancer" and "stroke". In general, death is caused in three different ways:

• as a result of severe bodily injuries received in automobile and other industrial accidents, with falls and drownings;
• as a result of murder and suicide;
• as a result of disease and wear and tear of the body with the onset of old age.

In the old days, people rarely lived to old age, dying prematurely from diseases. Today, many deadly diseases have been eliminated. Of course, there are still areas on Earth with undeveloped medicine, where people die, mainly from AIDS.

In high-income countries, death is more likely to occur from coronary heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, infections of the lower respiratory tract and lung failure. At the same time, life expectancy is longer in high-income countries. True, people are more likely to suffer from degenerative diseases.

How Death Comes - The Process

If the brain dies first in the body, the person stops breathing. Cells that do not receive oxygen begin to die.

Different cells die at different rates. It depends on how long they don't get oxygen. The brain requires a lot of oxygen, so when the air flow stops, brain cells die within 3-7 minutes. That's why stroke kills patients so quickly.

During a myocardial infarction, blood flow is disrupted. The brain also stops receiving oxygen, and death can occur.

If a person does not get sick with anything, but lives for a very long time, his body simply wears out from old age. His functions gradually fade away, and he dies.

There are some external manifestations frailty of the body. A person begins to sleep more so as not to waste energy. After a person loses the desire to move, he loses the desire to eat and drink. He has a dry throat, it becomes difficult for him to swallow something, and drinking liquids can cause choking.

Shortly before death, a person loses the ability to control discharge from Bladder and intestines. However, he almost does not urinate anymore and does not walk in a big way, because he practically does not eat, and his gastrointestinal tract stops functioning.

If a person is in pain before death, doctors can relieve his condition.

Shortly before death, a person begins to go into agony. The dying person is disoriented and finds it difficult to breathe. He breathes loudly and heavily. If there is an accumulation of fluid in the lungs, the patient may experience a death rattle. Due to a violation of the connection between the cells of the body, the dying person begins to have convulsions and muscle spasms.

We cannot know exactly what a person experiences on the eve of death. But those who died, but were saved in time, argued that death does not come painfully. At the same time, all the dying experienced a sense of detachment and peace, they felt that their soul was separated from the physical body, they had a feeling that they were moving from darkness to light. In general, hundreds of books and works have already been written about this.

Some doctors argue that near-death experiences are related to the fact that endorphins, pleasure hormones, are released in the human body before death.

When the heartbeat and breathing stop, clinical death occurs. Oxygen does not enter the cells, there is no blood circulation. However, clinical death is a reversible state. Via modern means resuscitation, such as blood transfusion or artificial ventilation lungs, a person can still be brought back to life.

The point of no return is biological death. It starts 4-6 minutes after the clinical one. After the pulse stops, brain cells begin to die from lack of oxygen. Now resuscitation no longer makes sense.

What happens to the body after death?

After the heart stops beating, the body cools down and rigor mortis begins. Every hour, body temperature drops by almost a degree. This continues until the body temperature reaches room temperature. In the absence of movement, the blood begins to stagnate, and cadaveric spots appear. This happens in the next 2-6 hours after death.

Despite the fact that the organism has died, some processes are still going on in the body. Skin cells, for example, function for up to 24 hours after death occurs.

A few days after death, the bacteria and enzymes contained in it are taken for the destruction of the body. The pancreas has so many bacteria that it begins to digest itself. As the microorganisms work on the body, it becomes discolored, becoming first greenish, then purple, and finally black.

If you visually do not notice changes in the body, then you cannot help but notice the smell. Bacteria that destroy the body emit a fetid gas. Gas is not only present in the room in the form bad smell. It inflates the body, making the eyes bulge and protrude from the sockets, and the tongue so thick that it begins to protrude from the mouth.

A week after death, the skin becomes covered with blisters, and the slightest touch to it can lead to their spontaneous opening. Within a month after the onset of death, nails and hair continue to grow.

But this is not because they are actually growing. It's just that the skin dries out, and they become more noticeable. Internal organs and tissues fill with fluid and swell. This will continue until the body bursts. After that, the insides dry up, and one skeleton remains.

Most of us cannot see the whole process described above, because the laws of different countries force citizens to do something with the body. The body can be put in a coffin and buried in the ground. It can be frozen, embalmed, or cremated. And for the same reason, we did not place images in this part of the text. Even if they exist, you should not look at them - the picture is not for the faint of heart.

Funerals in different countries and among different peoples

In ancient times, people were buried so that they would awaken in the afterlife. For this, their favorite things were placed in their tombs, and sometimes their favorite animals and even people. Warriors were sometimes buried upright so that they would be ready for battle in the afterlife.

Orthodox Jews wrapped the dead in shrouds and buried them on the day of death. But Buddhists believe that consciousness remains in the body for three days, so they bury the body no earlier than this period.

Hindus cremated the body, freeing the soul from the body, and Catholics treat cremation extremely negatively, believing that it offends the body as a symbol of human life.

Death and medical ethics

We have already written about the difficulties in determining the onset of death. Thanks to modern medical technology, it has become possible to keep the body alive even after brain death. When the brain dies, it is documented and communicated to the relatives of the deceased.

Then there are two possible scenarios. Some relatives agree with the opinion of doctors and give permission to disconnect the deceased from life support devices. Others do not recognize death, and the deceased continues to lie further under the apparatus.

People would like to always control their lives, but death deprives them of this. Now their fate will be determined by the doctor, whose decision will depend on whether to disconnect the deceased from the apparatus or not.

In general, a person whose brain does not work can no longer live fully. He cannot make decisions and benefit both his relatives and society. Relatives of the deceased must understand this and come to terms with the loss of a family member.

Appreciate loved ones while they are with you, and let go if they have already left.

The topic of what happens to the human body after death is fraught with many interesting facts, shrouded in myths and legends. What actually happens to body tissues when a person dies? And is the decomposition process so terrible, which, judging by the relevant photos and videos, is not a sight for the faint of heart.

Stages of death

Death is the natural and inevitable end of the life of any living being. This process does not happen all at once, it includes a series of successive stages. Death is expressed in the cessation of blood flow, stopping the work of the nervous and respiratory systems, the extinction of mental reactions.

Medicine distinguishes the stages of dying:

It is impossible to determine exactly how long a person dies, since all processes are strictly individual, their duration depends on the cause of the termination of life. So, for some, these stages are completed within a few minutes, for others it takes long weeks and even months.

What does a corpse look like?

What happens to the body of the deceased in the first minutes and hours after death is familiar to people who have observed these changes. Appearance of the deceased and the transition from one state to another depend on the natural chemical reactions organism, continuing even after the extinction of vital functions, as well as environmental conditions.

Drying

It is observed on previously moistened areas: mucous membranes of the lips, genitals, cornea, as well as places of wounds, abrasions and other skin lesions.

The higher the air temperature and the humidity surrounding the corpse, the faster the process. The cornea of ​​the eye becomes cloudy, yellow-brown “Larcher spots” appear on the whites.

Cadaveric drying allows you to assess the presence of intravital injuries in the body.

Rigor

Decrease and subsequent complete disappearance of adenosine triphosphoric acid - a substance formed as a result of leakage metabolic processes, is considered the main reason why the body of the deceased stiffens. When the internal organs cease to function, the metabolism fades, the concentration of various compounds decreases.

The body adopts a posture characterized by bent at the elbows upper limbs, in the hip and knee joints- lower and semi-compressed brushes. Rigor mortis is recognized as an undeniable proof of death.

The active stage occurs 2-3 hours after biological death, ends in 48 hours. Processes are accelerated when exposed to high temperatures.

At this stage, there is a decrease in body temperature. How quickly the corpse cools depends on the environment - during the first 6 hours, the indicator decreases by 1 degree per hour, then - by a degree every 1.5-2 hours.

In the case of pregnancy of the deceased, "birth in a coffin" is possible, when the uterus pushes the fetus out.

cadaveric spots

They are ordinary hematomas or bruises, as they are clots of gore. When the biological fluid stops flowing through the vessels, it settles in the nearby soft tissues. Under the influence of gravity, it descends to an area closer to the surface on which the body of the deceased or deceased lies.

Thanks to this physical feature, forensic scientists can determine how a person died, even if the dead body was moved to another place.

Smell

In the first minutes and hours after death, the only unpleasant odors that will come from the deceased may be the smells of involuntary bowel movements.

After a few days or hours, if the dead body has not been cooled, a characteristic cadaveric or putrefactive odor develops. Its reason lies in chemical processes - the decay of internal organs causes a lot of gases to accumulate in the body: ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and others, which create a characteristic "aroma".

Face changes

Loss of muscle tone and relaxation are the reasons for the disappearance of small wrinkles from the skin, deep ones are less pronounced.

The face takes on a neutral expression, similar to a mask - traces of pain and torment or joyful bliss disappear, the deceased looks calm, peaceful.

sexual arousal

Erection in men - frequent occurrence in the first minutes after death. Its occurrence is explained by the law of gravity - blood tends to the lower parts of the body and does not return to the heart, its accumulation occurs in the soft tissues of the body, including the reproductive organ.

Bowel and bladder emptying

Natural biological processes arise due to the loss of tone in the muscles of the body. As a result, the sphincter and urethra are relaxed. It is clear that such a phenomenon requires one of the very first and obligatory rituals of the deceased - ablution.

The weight

In the course of many medical studies, it was possible to establish that the mass of a person changes immediately after death - the corpse weighs 21 grams less. scientific explanation this is not, therefore it is commonly believed that such is the weight of the soul of the deceased, which left the mortal body for eternal life.

How the body decomposes

The body continues to decompose for many years after death, but these stages mainly occur after the funeral and are not observed. ordinary people. However, thanks to medical research all stages of decomposition are described in detail in specialized literature, which makes it possible to imagine what a decaying corpse looks like a month or years after death.

Like the stages of death, for each deceased, the processes of decomposition have individual characteristics and depend on the factors that led to the death.

Autolysis (Self Absorption)

Decomposition begins already in the first minutes after the soul leaves the body, but the process becomes noticeable only after a few hours. Moreover, the higher the ambient temperature and humidity in it, the faster these changes occur.

The first stage is drying. Thin layers of the epidermis are exposed to it: mucous membranes, eyeballs, fingertips and others. The skin of these areas turns yellow and thinner, then thickens and becomes like parchment paper.

The second stage is directly autolysis. It is characterized by the breakdown of cells of internal organs caused by the activation of their own enzymes. At this stage, the tissues become soft, liquid, which is why the expression "corpse drip" appeared.

The organs that produce these enzymes are the first to change, and therefore have the largest supply of them:

• kidneys;
• adrenal glands;
• pancreas;
• liver;
• spleen;
• organs of the digestive system.

It is difficult to predict how long the full cycle of autolysis will take. It depends:

• on the temperature at which the corpse is stored - the lower it is, the longer the stage of digestion by the tissues of themselves takes;
• on the quantity pathogenic microflora, which is involved in the process of absorption of body cells.

rotting

This is a late post-mortem stage of decomposition, which occurs on average after three days and proceeds for quite a long time. It is from this moment that a specific putrid smell arises, and the body itself swells from the putrefactive gases that overwhelm it.

If the human remains were not buried, and the temperature surrounding them is high, the corpse rots quickly enough - after 3-4 months only a skeleton remains of it. Cold can slow down these processes, and freezing can stop them. The simple answer to the question of where such rotten masses go is they are absorbed into the soil, which subsequently makes it fertile.

Smoldering

Putrefactive processes are characteristic of the corpses in the grave, and proceed without the participation of oxygen. Remains that have to decompose on the surface of the earth undergo another biological process - smoldering. Moreover, such decomposition occurs faster, since there are fewer chemical compounds in the tissues and at the same time they are less toxic than those that fill the corpse rotting underground.

The reason for the differences is simple - under the influence of oxygen, water evaporates faster from tissues and conditions arise for the growth of mold and the development of invertebrates, which literally “eat away” soft tissues, causing the decomposed corpse to become a pure skeleton.

Saponification

This process is typical for remains buried in soil with high humidity, in water, and in places where there is no access to oxygen. This leads to detachment skin(maceration), moisture penetrates the body and flushes out blood and a number of various substances followed by saponification of fats. As a result of chemical reactions, special soaps are formed, which form the basis of the fat wax - a solid mass, at the same time similar to soap and cottage cheese.

Fat wax acts on the principle of a preservative: although such corpses do not have internal organs (they look more like a slimy shapeless mass), the appearance of the body is almost completely preserved.

Traces of injuries and injuries that led to death are easily detected on it: opening of veins, gunshot wounds, strangulation and others. It is for this feature that saponification is appreciated by those who work in the bodies of forensic medical examination - pathologists and forensic scientists.

Mummification

At its core, it is the drying up of human remains. For the process to proceed correctly and fully, a dry environment is required, heat and good ventilation of the corpse.

At the end of mummification, which can last from several weeks in children to six months in adults, body height and weight decrease, soft tissues become dense and wrinkled (which indicates the absence of moisture in them), the skin becomes brown-brown.

The activities of living organisms

The body of each person inhabits several million microorganisms, the vital activity of which does not depend on whether he is alive or not. After the cessation of biological processes in the body, it disappears and immune defense, making it easier for fungi, bacteria and other flora to move through the internal organs.

Such activity allows the process of self-absorption to proceed faster, especially if environmental conditions are favorable for their growth.

Corpse Sounds

These phenomena are characteristic of the remains that have entered the stage of decay, as they arise as a result of the release of gases that fill the body, and those are formed under the influence of the activity of microorganisms.

In the first days after death, the sphincter and trachea usually become the pathways for the release of volatile substances, therefore the presence of wheezing, whistles and groans is characteristic of the deceased, which are the reason for creating terrible myths.

Bloating

Another phenomenon due to the accumulation of volatile compounds and decomposing internal organs. Since most gases accumulate in the intestines, it is the stomach that swells first, and after that the process spreads to the rest of the members.

The skin integuments lose color, become covered with blisters, and rotten insides in the form of a jelly-like liquid begin to leak from the natural openings of the body.

Hair and nails

There is an opinion that keratinized integuments continue to grow even after the completion of biological processes. And although it is erroneous, it is impossible to say that their length does not increase. The fact is that during drying - the very first stage of decomposition, the skin becomes noticeably thinner and the root of the hair or nail is pulled out, exposed, which creates a deceptive impression of growth.

Bones

Bone tissue is the strongest and least susceptible to destruction part of the human body. Bones don't decompose long years, do not rot or smolder - even the smallest and thinnest of them take centuries to turn into dust.

Skeletonization of a corpse in a coffin takes up to 30 years, in the ground it happens faster (in 2-4 years). Large and wide bones remain practically unchanged.

soil fertilization

In the process of decomposition, several thousand useful components, minerals, micro- and macroelements, chemical and biological compounds are released from the remains of living matter, which are absorbed into the soil and become an excellent fertilizer for it.

The process has a positive effect on the general ecological system of the region where the cemeteries are located, explains the custom of some ancient tribes to bury the dead on the edges of pastures and gardens.

What happens to the dead after death

If the physiological and biological components of death are described in some detail as in a specialized medical literature, and individuals who are fond of the occult, who love corpses and are interested in their various states, then the question of the soul or vital energy, wandering mind, subsequent reincarnation and other phenomena have not been fully investigated.

Not a single living person has found answers to the questions whether there is life after death, what a dying or already dead person feels, how real the other world is.

In any case, the body of the deceased must go through its own special ritual, and his soul is remembered by relatives and friends. For the first time, a commemoration is held after 9 days, or no later than after 10 days from the moment of death, again - on the 40th day and the third - on the anniversary of the death.

After 40 days

Analysis of the remains, including those from a hidden grave, can help determine the date of a person's death. For example, studies have shown that the maximum concentration of phospholipids in the fluid flowing from the body is observed 40 days after death, and nitrogen and phosphorus - after 72 and 100 days, respectively.

After 60 days, the corpse begins to crumble, if buried in moist soil, acquires a whitish-yellow color. The stay of the body in peat soil and swamp makes the skin dense and rough, the bones eventually become soft, resembling cartilaginous tissue.

According to Orthodox beliefs, in 40 days the soul of the deceased ends earthly ordeals and goes to the afterlife.

What it will be - the Supreme Court will decide, not the last argument on which will be the fact how the burial was carried out. So, before burying the coffin, a service is read over the deceased, during which all his earthly sins are forgiven.

In a year

At this time, the processes of decomposition of the body continue: the remaining soft tissues, exposing the skeleton. It is characteristic that a year after death, the cadaverous smell is no longer there. This means that the decay process is completed. The remnants of tissues smolder, releasing nitrogen and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

During this period, the presence of tendons, dry and dense parts of the body can still be observed. Next, a long process of mineralization (up to 30 years) will start, as a result of which bones that are not fastened together will remain from a person.

The year in Orthodoxy is marked by the final passage of the soul of the deceased to Heaven or Hell and the union with the deceased relatives and friends. It is the first anniversary that is considered the new birth of the soul for eternal life, therefore the commemoration is held surrounded by close relatives and all people dear to the deceased.

Burial methods

Each religion has its own canons and customs, according to which ceremonies are held to honor and commemorate the deceased on certain days, as well as features of the burial of the body.

So, in Christianity, it is customary to bury the dead in a coffin or immerse them in crypts, in Islam - to wrap them in a shroud and put them in damp earth, in Hinduism and Buddhism they burn the dead, because they believe that the soul is able to be reborn and return in a new body, and in Some Indian tribes still have the custom of eating the dead.

The list of methods is long, and quite unusual ones have recently been encountered: dissolving the body in special chemical compounds or hanging it in air for mummification. But two are the most popular in our country: burial in a coffin and cremation.

Few even believers know why dead people are buried in coffins. According to beliefs, the very concept of "dead" or "deceased" means asleep, resting, that is, one who temporarily rests in anticipation of the reappearance of Christ and the subsequent resurrection.

That is why the body of the deceased is placed in a coffin, which is designed to keep it until the Second Coming. The key features are the position of the pillow under the head and the placement in the ground facing east, since that is where the Savior will appear.

If we consider the burial process from the point of view of biology, the wooden box in which the deceased is placed is also considered a natural material, and when the coffin rots, additional fertilizer is formed that improves the ecosystem.

Cremation is the process of burning a body. It is popular because it has a number of advantages:

• saving space, since the urn with ashes takes up less space than the coffin;
• cremation costs less than conventional funerals;
• if the urn with the ashes of the deceased is placed at home, then a place in the cemetery is not required.

The only caveat is that such dead people should not hope for the subsequent Resurrection and gaining Eternal life in Orthodoxy, since the church does not welcome and even condemns cremation.

Another actual question- after how many days the dead are buried. Here everything is individual and depends on the causes and circumstances of the death itself. If the law enforcement agencies have no questions about the onset of death, it is better to carry out the burial on the second day after death, since the processes of decay begin later, the corpse turns black or turns blue, covered with spots, and smells bad.

If, for some reason, burial is temporarily impossible, the body should be placed in cold storage. Thus, the special temperature in the morgue and the treatment of the corpse with the appropriate chemicals will help keep it in optimal condition. long time. Some relatives try to stop decomposition with dry ice or by placing the deceased in the cold, which can be done, but only if the funeral is delayed for 1-2 days.

In some cases, most often requiring additional forensic research or reburial, the corpse is exhumed.

The removal of the body is usually carried out with special permission and in accordance with Orthodox customs and canons. Exhumed bodies are very quickly redirected to the morgue or to a subsequent burial site.