Agonal Changes Terminology

Agonal

A period of time immediately before death.

Agonal algor

Decrease in body temperature immediately before death.

Agonal coagulation

Change from a fluid into a thickened mass of blood immediately before death.

Agonal capillary expansion

When the capillaries open and allow more oxygen to reach the tissues immediately before death.

Agonal dehydration

Loss of moisture immediately before death.

Agonal edema

Escape of blood serum from an intravascular to an extravascular location immediately before death.

Pitted edema

Caused by a lot of moisture in the body. When pressure is applied to the area, it leaves an indentation.

Agonal fever

Increase in body temperature immediately before death.

Agonal translocation

Redistribution of endemic microflora in a host-wide basis immediately before death.

Algor mortis

Postmortem cooling of the body to the ambient temperature.

Antemortem

Before death.

Apparent death

Condition in which the manifestations of life are feebly maintained.

Biological death

Irreversible somatic death.

Cadaver

Dead human body used for medical purposes.

Cadaveric lividity (livor mortis)

Intravascular red-blue discoloration resulting from postmortem hypostasis of blood.

Cellular death

Death of the individual cells of the body.

Clinical death

Phase of somatic death lasting from 5-6 minutes during which life may be restored.

Death

Irreversible cessation of all vital functions.

Death rattle

Noise made by a moribund person caused by air passing through a residue of mucous in the trachea and posterior oval cavity.

Death struggle

Semi-convulsive twitches that often occur before death.

Dehydration

Loss of moisture from body tissue, which may occur antemortem or postmortem; the removal of water from a substance.

Febrile

Characterized by a high fever, causing dehydration of the body.

Hypostasis

Process of blood and/or other fluids settling to the dependent portions of the body that can occur in the antemortem, agonal, or postmortem period.

Microorganism

A microscopic organism, especially a bacterium, virus, or fungus.

Microbial enzyme

The enzymes of microorganisms; a source of the enzymes that contribute to decomposition.

Moribund

A dying condition or dying.

Postmortem

Period that begins after somatic death.

Postmortem chemical change

Change in the body’s chemical composition that occurs after death.

Postmortem physical change

Forces of nature that act on the body to alter the physical state of the body or tissues after death.

Somatic death

Death of the organism as a whole.

Necrosis

Pathological death of a tissue still a part of the living organism.

Necrobiosis

Antemortem, physiological death of the cells of the body followed by their replacement.

Adipocere (grave wax)

Wax-like material produced by saponification of body fat in a body buried in alkaline soil.

Aerobic

Characterized by the presence of free oxygen.

Anaerobic

Characterized by the absence of free oxygen.

Autolysis

Self-destruction of cells; decomposition of all tissues by enzymes of their own formation without microbial assistance.

Autolytic enzyme

The body’s own digestive enzymes capable of destroying body cells.

Cadaveric spasm (instantaneous rigor)

Immediate stiffening of the muscles of a dead human body.

Coroner

Elected or appointed official of a local community who may or may not have medical training and holds inquests concerning sudden, violent, and unexplained deaths.

Crepitation

Crackling sensation produced when gases trapped in tissues are palpated, as in subcutaneous emphysema or tissue gas.

Decay

Decomposition of proteins by enzymes of aerobic bacteria.

Decomposition

Separation of compounds into simpler substances by the action of microbial and/or autolytic enzymes.

Desquamation (skin slip)

Separation of the epidermis from the underlying dermis.

Fermentation

The microbial (enzymatic) decomposition of carbohydrates under anaerobic conditions.

Heme

The red pigment of the hemoglobin.

Hemoglobin

Iron-containing protein of red blood cells functioning to carry oxygen to the cells.

Hemolysis

Destruction of red blood cells that releases heme.

Hydrolysis

Decomposition with water as one of the reactants.

Imbibition

Swelling and softening of tissues and organs as a result of absorbing moisture from adjacent sources.

Lipolysis

Decomposition of fats.

Lysin

Hydrolysis enzyme that acts destructively upon cells and tissues.

Lysome

Organelle within but separate from a cell containing hydrolysis enzymes that break down proteins and certain carbohydrates.

Lysosomes

Vesicles containing digestive enzymes.

Medical examiner

Elected or appointed official of a local community, with a medical degree, who holds inquests concerning sudden, violent, and unexplained deaths.

Postmortem caloricity

Rise in body temperature after death due to continued cellular metabolism.

Postmortem stain

Extravascular discoloration that occurs when heme seeps through the vessel walls and into the body tissues.

Proteolysis

Decomposition of proteins.

Ptomaine

Any one of a group of nitrogenous organic compounds formed by the action of putrefactive bacteria on proteins.

Purge

Postmortem evacuation of any substance from an external orifice of the body as a result of pressure.

Putrefaction

Decomposition of proteins by the action of enzymes from anaerobic bacteria.

Rigor mortis

Postmortem stiffening of the body muscles by natural body processes.

Saccharolysis

Decomposition of sugars.

Saponification

Conversion of fatty tissues of the body into a soapy waxy substance called adipocere or grave wax.

Saprophytic bacteria

Bacteria that derive their nutrition from dead organic matter.

Viscosity

The thickness of a liquid, or the measure of its resistance to flow.