Post-mortem interval
| Stages of death |
|---|
|
1. Pallor mortis |
1. Pallor mortis
2. Algor mortis
3. Rigor mortis
4. Livor mortis
5. Putrefaction
6. Decomposition
7. Skeletonization
Post-mortem interval (PMI) is the time that has elapsed since a person has died. If the time in question is not known, a number of medical/scientific techniques are used to determine it. This also can refer to the stage of decomposition of the body.
Many types of changes to a body occur after death. Some of those that can be used to determine the interval are:
A person who judges the time of death by the means of decomposition can refer to a simple five-stage process:
More advanced methods include DNA quantification,infrared spectroscopy. and for buried individuals changes in soils such as the levels of methane, phosphates and nitrates, ninhydrin-reactive nitrogen, volatile organic compounds and water conductivity.
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