Which term refers to the cooling of the body toward ambient temperature?

Which term refers to the cooling of the body toward ambient temperature?

• A. Livor Mortis
• B. Algor Mortis
• C. Rigor Mortis
• D. Putrefaction

Answer: (B)

After death, the body loses heat to the surrounding environment until its temperature matches ambient conditions. This cooling process is called algor mortis. It starts when metabolic heat production stops and heat transfer occurs through conduction, convection, and radiation, gradually bringing the body temperature down toward the surroundings. The rate of cooling depends on factors like the environment’s temperature, airflow, whether the body is clothed or covered, its size and fat content, and whether it is in water. Understanding algor mortis helps explain how body temperature changes in the postmortem period, while other signs—such as livor mortis (blood settling and discoloration), rigor mortis (muscle stiffening), and putrefaction (decomposition)—involve different processes and timelines.

After death, the body loses heat to the surrounding environment until its temperature matches ambient conditions. This cooling process is called algor mortis. It starts when metabolic heat production stops and heat transfer occurs through conduction, convection, and radiation, gradually bringing the body temperature down toward the surroundings. The rate of cooling depends on factors like the environment’s temperature, airflow, whether the body is clothed or covered, its size and fat content, and whether it is in water. Understanding algor mortis helps explain how body temperature changes in the postmortem period, while other signs—such as livor mortis (blood settling and discoloration), rigor mortis (muscle stiffening), and putrefaction (decomposition)—involve different processes and timelines.