Many people prefer not to think about what happens to the body in the coffin. It so happens that in our community the topic of death is taboo; they prefer not to raise it, and if life circumstances force it, then talk about it as little as possible and in the most polite terms possible. It is completely unethical to directly state, for example, about rotting, although due to the education received, the majority of our fellow citizens are well aware that these are the processes that occur with a body placed in the ground. However, the coffin may simply contain ashes remaining after cremation. In such a situation, organic processes will be somewhat different and will not proceed in the same way as during the burial of ordinary remains. On the other hand, usually the ashes of a cremated person are preserved in completely different ways.
What awaits us?
Opinions regarding what happens to the body in the coffin vary greatly - much depends on which religious branch a particular person belongs to. Many, for example, believe in resurrection, so they are convinced that nothing bad happens to bodies - they are waiting in the wings. Others believe that an apocalyptic situation is possible, when the dead will rise from their graves and unleash their wrath on the living. For such a faith, the idea of complete decomposition of the body is also poorly suited - after all, someone (something) needs to get up.
Religions, philosophical movements, rituals and traditions have long tried to give people an idea of what happens after death - and all this for the simple reason that such a transition frightens most people. It is because of this that the topic of death is so carefully avoided in society, and certainly not talked about about how the human body decomposes. This is considered categorically unethical, ill-mannered, and even very ugly behavior if someone’s loved one has died. The idea of decomposing the remains of someone we loved so much is not just upsetting, it is insulting.
And do not accept, and do not forget
Despite such great difficulties traditionally associated with the perception of the moment of death, a person still cannot abandon the reasoning and reflections associated with the transition from life to non-existence. Of course, Epicurus expressed himself very wisely on this matter in his time, answering that there is no death while he is alive, and when it comes he will no longer be there, which means there is nothing to fear. At the same time, this idea is not very compatible with beliefs in the transmigration of souls, the afterlife and other forms of the future existence of the human essence, therefore not everyone is ready to accept Epicurean statements, and the fate of the coffin in the ground sincerely worries many, many. Surprisingly, many are afraid to admit their interest, considering it shameful.
How it all begins
As soon as life ceases, irreversible organic reactions begin in the body. The first among them, as doctors say, is autolysis, in other words, the independent digestion of one’s own cells. Doctors have more than once studied what happens to the human body after death, and therefore have discovered that negative processes are primarily caused by a lack of oxygen. Once death occurs, the blood is no longer supplied with this essential component, resulting in severe damage to living cells.
Chemical reactions occurring in the human body become sources of toxic compounds. During life, internal organs effectively remove such organic matter, producing high-quality cleaning. When considering what happens to the human body after death, it is necessary to remember: there is no longer blood flow or organ activity, thanks to which toxic components could be removed from living cells, so instead of disposal, accumulation occurs. The brain and liver are the first to suffer from such negative processes. This is due to the high water content in the structures of the main organ of the nervous system, and the liver is rich in active enzymes.
It won't go unnoticed
If changes in the structure of the brain and liver occur inside the body and remain invisible to an external observer, then the next step, if it was not decided to cremate the person in a timely manner, can be observed with your own eyes - the skin changes. The shade becomes pale, it is usually described as “dead”, it will be so characteristic in such a situation.
The process is explained quite simply. As the internal systems are destroyed, the vessels also lose their functionality. In such a situation, the blood gradually flows down in the direction of the person’s location relative to the surface of the earth, which is due to the influence of gravity. By the way, it’s no secret to anyone what happens to the body in the coffin, which is why in popular culture the living dead are usually portrayed as pale as this. These include vampires and zombies in films, books and games. Living in dark corners, fearing the light, the “dead” are ready to pounce on the living, whose blood is still warm and full. However, in films, the heroes of the “otherworld” are usually uniformly light, but in reality, the body on the back side acquires a dark tint, since blood accumulates here.
No heat
Perhaps this element of the processes that occur with a person’s body in a coffin is also very well presented in popular culture: the deceased person becomes cold. This is due to the impossibility of functioning of internal systems and organs. Under the influence of stagnant processes and the absence of energy generation reactions, the temperature decreases. The process is not instantaneous, but inevitable. Cells do not receive the necessary nutrition, including energy, which is why the threads of protein compounds become static. This leads to hardening of the muscle tissue, it becomes rigid. Joints change in a similar way. In medicine, this stage is called rigor mortis.
If the cremation of a person was not organized in a timely manner, the processes can be noticed first of all by the face. The first changes are reflected in the eyelids of the deceased and in the condition of the jaws. The next step is the muscle tissue of the neck. Gradually, this process covers the entire body.
A holy place is never empty
When considering what happens to the body of the deceased in the coffin, it is necessary to understand that the person himself as such is no longer here. This is just a set of organic tissues that is completely subject to the laws of our world, namely: living organisms can use everything that is on the planet to ensure that they can live longer. This also applies to the bodies of deceased people.
While a person is alive, the internal organs produce various components that do not allow microbes and viruses to multiply inside. After death, this protective system loses its functionality, so a new ecological system soon develops - it is due to it that the body rots. Many bacteria whose growth is activated are also present in a living organism, but their colonies are strictly controlled by immune cells, but after death microscopic life begins to experience real freedom. In fact, the body is still alive, but has no consciousness. This is one of the most characteristic features of organic life on our planet, where absolutely empty space cannot remain if it is at least to some extent suitable for habitation. The human body is organic matter rich in nutritional components, so this is definitely a “holy place”, even if the fellow tribesmen of the deceased are offended by such behavior of microscopic organisms as disrespect for the memory of the deceased.
Molecular death
For the sake of your own mental health, you should not open the coffin standing in the crypt: you can thereby give yourself the opportunity to contemplate one of the most unaesthetic, unpleasant (and, by the way, dangerous to the health of living things) stage of decomposition - molecular death. By the way, as studies have shown, in the majority of living people the picture of post-mortem decomposition causes disgust, and the absence of such a reaction in modern medicine is considered as a pathological response to an external factor. This is due to the body’s protective reactions: it has been known since ancient times that decomposed bodies are dangerous, can become a source of infection, and provoke epidemics of terrible diseases. At a subconscious level, humanity as a species has developed a defense against such a threat in the form of aversion to the process of decomposition.
However, even if we ignore attempts to survive as a species and just look at what happens to the body in the coffin, we still have to admit that the picture is rather unaesthetic. Previously soft tissues eventually turn into a mixture of gases, liquids and salt deposits. The process is largely due to the activity of microscopic life forms.
Step by step
If you look at the body in the coffin a year later, you will see some remains of soft tissue, still decomposing under the influence of microflora, but the process of decay itself is completed by this time. But if you have to get acquainted with the corpse earlier, the picture will frankly not be pleasant. First, the pressure of gaseous masses increases in the body, which leads to the formation of blisters on the skin - the air tries to escape into the free external space. Under the influence of such processes and decomposition itself, the flaps of integument are gradually separated from the body, and the results of the processes leave what was previously a living organism. There are cases where increased pressure led to a small explosion inside the body of a deceased person. In such a situation, the abdominal area is the first to suffer.
Return to roots
At first, all these processes occur very intensively and actively, but over time, the volumes of organic matter available for processing decrease significantly, which leads to a slowdown in chemical reactions. The remains return to where we came from - to nature. The liquid gradually penetrates the soil, the bacteria find new carriers - insects. Criminologists use the term “island” in their work practice. It is they who describe the area where the human body was buried - gradually there are practically no traces left of it, only the soil seems to have been improved with rich organic fertilizer. By analyzing its chemical composition, one can determine what exactly was here previously.
Not everything goes according to plan
There are situations when processes do not proceed at all as described above. Preservation possible. Many believe that this is more characteristic of recent decades, the development of industry, the saturation of the tissues of the human body with chemical components - however, this opinion is disputed by no fewer people than those who agree with it. There are several known ways to preserve the body of a deceased person:
- mummification;
- fat wax;
- peat tanning;
- freezing.
How and why?
The specific process is determined by the conditions. There are known traditions in some areas when people, even during their lifetime, took measures to preserve their bodies. For example, this is exactly the practice that the Sokushinbutsu monks engaged in: first they adhered to a strict diet, and then immured themselves high in the mountains. However, now this practice is recognized as harsh and is officially prohibited. It is curious: despite numerous difficulties, only very few of the fanatics of this religious trend achieved real success. For the majority, despite all the measures taken (eating roots, refusing liquids), natural laws turned out to be stronger, so after death I observe quite ordinary organic decomposition in accordance with the laws of our world.
The name of the last Japanese monk to successfully follow this idea is Tetsuryukai. Interestingly, he became the “Buddha in the flesh” after the introduction of the imperial ban on such a sophisticated form of suicide, but loyal followers were able to present the matter in such a way that no one had broken the laws. To this day, the mummy of this monk can be seen in one of the Japanese temples in Nangaku.
What happens to a body in a coffin in a regular cemetery?
When a person is buried, according to our traditions, the body in the coffin goes to the cemetery. In contrast to sophisticated methods of preserving organic tissues, here everything happens exactly the opposite: what was once a person is at the mercy of numerous small organisms living in the thickness of the earth. Mechanical influence, in other words, tissue absorption, is the responsibility of mold fungi, nematodes, and maggots, which happily feed on the “treat.”
The laws of this world
Decomposition occurs most quickly at elevated temperatures; in water, the process takes slightly longer, and is slowest underground. A special Kasper rule was developed regarding the relationship between periods: a week in the open air corresponds to two weeks of decomposition in water and two months in the thickness of the earth.
Rotting corpse (putrification of a corpse,
p
utrefactio
mortis
)
– decomposition of the organic matter of a corpse under the action of enzyme systems of microorganisms with the formation of final inorganic products.
Characteristic products of decay are water, carbon dioxide, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, volatile fatty acids (formic, acetic, butyric, valeric and caproic, as well as isomers of the last three acids), phenol, cresol, indole, skatole, amines, trimethylamine, aldehydes, alcohols , purine bases, etc. Some of these substances arise during the process of decay, others are contained in the corpse, but during decay their quantity increases many times. A fairly large number of different aerobic, facultative anaerobic and anaerobic spore-forming and non-spore-forming bacteria are involved in decay.
At a storage temperature of about 0 ° C, rotting is mainly caused by the activity of psychrophilic bacteria, most often the genus Pseudomonas. At elevated storage temperatures, rotting of proteins is caused mainly by mesophilic putrefactive microorganisms: non-spore-forming bacteria - Proteus vulgaris, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus subtilis, Potato bacillus (Bac. mesentericus), mushroom bacillus (Bac. . mycoides) and other aerobic bacilli; anaerobic clostridia - sporogenes bacillus (Cl. sporogenes), putrificus bacillus (Cl. putrificus) and perfringens bacillus (Cl. perfringens). Molds can also participate in decay processes.
In most cases, the species composition of the bacterial flora that develops during decay in corpses depends on the nature of the bacteria located in the gastrointestinal tract of the deceased.
Putrification of a corpse is a sequential multi-stage process, each stage of which occurs with the formation of a certain number of decomposition products, which undergo further sequential transformations.
The staged nature of decay processes is due to the unequal enzymatic activity of putrefactive microflora in relation to various substances. Proteins that are in a dissolved state, such as blood proteins and cerebrospinal fluid proteins, are more easily susceptible to the action of microorganisms. The transformation of protein breakdown products occurs through intermediate substances with the formation of final, foul-smelling decay products. Various microorganisms can participate in the putrefactive decomposition of a corpse, either simultaneously or sequentially: first of all, those that are capable of destroying the protein molecule, and then microbes that assimilate the breakdown products of proteins.
In total, as a result of putrification of corpses, about 1,300 different compounds can be gradually formed, whose chemical composition depends on the time of decomposition of the corpse material, temperature, presence of moisture, air access, bacterial flora, composition of organs and tissues undergoing decomposition, as well as on a number of others factors.
One of the initial products of the putrefactive breakdown of proteins are peptones (mixtures of peptides), which can cause poisoning when administered parenterally. Peptides decompose to form mercaptants (thioalcohols and thiophenols), as well as amino acids. Free amino acids formed during the hydrolysis of peptones undergo deamination, oxidative or reductive decarboxylation. During the deamination of amino acids, volatile fatty acids (capronic, isocaproic, etc.) are formed, and during decarboxylation, various toxic organic bases are formed - amines. Amino acids containing sulfur decompose to release methyl mercaptan, hydrogen sulfide and other sulfur compounds.
Aerobes have the greatest activity on proteins - B. proteus, B. pyocyaneum, B. mesentericus, B. subtilis, streptococci and staphylococci; anaerobes - Cl. putrificus, Cl. histolyticus, Cl. perfringens, Cl. Sporogenes, B. bifidus, acidofilus, B. butyricus... Amino acids are broken down by aerobes - B. faecalis alcaligenes, B. lactis aerogenes, B. aminoliticus, E. coli, etc.
When lipoproteins rot, the lipid part is first of all split off from them. A component of lecithin, found in muscles, as well as in the brain and spinal cord, is choline, which during the process of decay is converted into trimethylamine, dimethylamine and methylamine. Trimethylamine oxidizes to form trimethylamine oxide, which has a fishy odor. In addition, the toxic substance neurin can be formed from choline during the rotting of a corpse.
During the putrefactive decomposition of carbohydrates, organic acids, their decarboxylation products, aldehydes, ketones, lactones, and carbon monoxide are formed.
During decay, nucleoproteins decompose into protein and nucleic acid, which then disintegrates into its component parts, resulting in the formation of hypoxanthine and xanthine - products of decomposition of nucleoproteins.
Biogenic diamines, formed as a result of partial decomposition of proteins and decarboxylation of their amino acids and having a toxic effect, are collectively called “cadaveric poison”. Organic bases (ethylenediamine, cadaverine, putrescine, skatole, indole, ethylenediamine, etc.) formed during protein decay are also called ptomains (from the Greek - Πτώμα, meaning dead body, corpse).
The main toxic substances among them are putrescine and cadaverine, as well as spermidine and spermine. Putrescine, 1,4 - tetramethylenediamine, H 2 N(CH 2) 4 NH 2 ; belongs to the group of biogenic amines. Crystalline substance with an extremely unpleasant odor, melting point 27-28 °C. It was first discovered in the products of putrefactive decay of proteins. It is formed when bacteria decarboxylate the amino acid ornithine. In body tissues, putrescine is the starting compound for the synthesis of two physiologically active polyamines - spermidine and spermine. These substances, along with putrescine, cadaverine and other diamines, are part of ribosomes, participating in maintaining their structure.
Cadaverine (from Latin cadaver - corpse), α, ε-pentamethylenediamine - a chemical compound with the formula NH 2 (CH 2) 5 NH 2. It got its name because of its very strong cadaverous odor. It is a colorless liquid with a density of 0.870 g/cm3 and boiling point 178-179 °C. Cadaverine is easily soluble in water and alcohol and produces well-crystallizing salts. Freezes at +9 °C. Contained in the products of putrefactive breakdown of proteins; is formed from lysine during its enzymatic decarboxylation. Found in plants. Cadaverine can be produced artificially from trimethylene cyanide.
Spermine is a chemical substance of the aliphatic polyamine class. Participates in cellular metabolism, found in all eukaryotic cells, in living organisms it is formed from spermidine. Spermine was first isolated in 1678 from human sperm by Anthony van Leeuwenhoek in the form of a crystalline salt (phosphate). The name “spermine” was first used by the German chemists Ladenburg and Abel in 1888. Currently, spermine is found in various tissues of a large number of organisms and is a growth factor in some bacteria. At physiological pH it exists as a polycation.
It should be noted that the toxicity of chemically pure ptomains is low compared to the effect of directly cadaveric material. In experiments on rats, the toxic dose of cadaverine is 2000 mg/kg, putrescine - 2000 mg/kg, spermidine and spermine - 600 mg/kg.
Therefore, the toxic properties of cadaveric material are explained by the action of certain impurities (bacterial toxins and a number of synthesis products formed in cadaveric material under the influence of bacterial enzymes) contained along with polyamines in putrefactive biological material.
Rotting can occur both with oxygen access to the tissues of the corpse (aerobic rotting) and in its absence (anaerobic rotting). As a rule, aerobic and anaerobic types of decay develop simultaneously; we can only talk about the predominance of one or another process.
Under aerobic conditions, protein breakdown occurs predominantly with the participation of aerobic microorganisms (B. proteus vulgaris, B. subtilis, B. mesentericus, B. pyocyaneum, B. coli, Sarcina flava, Streptococcus pyogenes, etc.) and the formation of many intermediate and final products of decay. Aerobic rotting occurs relatively quickly and is not accompanied by the release of large amounts of liquid and gases with a specific fetid odor. Rotting under the influence of aerobic microorganisms with good access to oxygen occurs with more complete oxidation. At the same time, aerobes greedily absorb oxygen and thereby contribute to the development of anaerobes.
Under anaerobic conditions, fewer decay products are formed, but they are more toxic. Anaerobic microorganisms (B. putrificus, B. perfringens and others) cause relatively slower rotting, in which the oxidation and decomposition of biological compounds is not complete enough, which is accompanied by the release of large amounts of liquid and gases with a fetid odor.
In addition to the biochemical stages, the stages of decay of a corpse are also characterized by morphological, relatively constant periods of development.
Under standard conditions, decay begins within 3-4 hours after death, and at the initial stage it proceeds unnoticed. The putrefactive bacterial flora located in the large intestine is activated, which leads to the formation of a large amount of gases and their accumulation in the intestines and abdomen. Intestinal bloating, an increase in abdominal volume and some tension in the anterior abdominal wall can be noted by palpation within 6-12 hours after the death of a person.
The resulting putrefactive gases, which include hydrogen sulfide, penetrate the intestinal walls and begin to spread through the blood vessels. By combining with blood hemoglobin and muscle myoglobin, hydrogen sulfide forms compounds - sulfhemoglobin and sulfmyoglobin, which give a dirty green color to the internal organs and skin.
The first external signs of decay become noticeable on the anterior abdominal wall by the end of the 2nd - beginning of the third day after death. A dirty green coloration of the skin appears, appearing first in the right iliac region and then in the left. This is due to the fact that the large intestine is directly adjacent to the anterior abdominal wall in the iliac regions. In summer or in warm conditions, a dirty green color of the skin in the iliac regions may appear a day earlier.
Rice. "Corpse greens." Dirty green discoloration of the skin in the iliac regions
Since blood proteins easily rot, putrification quickly spreads through the blood vessels to other areas of the body. Blood putrefaction further enhances its hemolysis and increases the amount of sulfhemoglobin, which leads to the appearance of a branched dirty-brown or dirty-green venous pattern on the skin - a subcutaneous putrefactive venous network. Clearly visible signs of a putrefactive venous network are observed already 3-4 days after death.
Rice. Putrid venous network
On days 4 - 5, the entire anterior skin of the abdominal wall and genitals acquires a uniform dirty green tint, and cadaveric green develops.
By the end of the 1st - beginning of the 2nd week, a dirty green color covers a significant part of the surface of the corpse.
At the same time, as a result of the binding of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) formed during decay with iron, released due to hemolysis of erythrocytes and the breakdown of hemoglobin, iron sulfide (FeS) is formed, which gives a black color to soft tissues and the parenchyma of internal organs.
Staining corpse tissue black (cadaveric pseudomelanosis, pseud ome l anosis) occurs unevenly and is most clearly visible in those places where the greatest accumulation of blood is noted - in the area of cadaveric spots and hypostases.
The noted order of development of putrefactive manifestations during external examination is observed in most cases, however, there may be exceptions. For example, in case of death from mechanical asphyxia, cadaveric green initially appears not in the iliac regions, but on the head and chest. This is due to the fact that the stagnation of blood that occurs during asphyxia in the upper part of the body contributes to the development of putrefaction in these areas of the body.
During the process of decay, a variety of coccal and rod flora begin to develop on the surface of the corpse, as a result of which the skin becomes slimy. The corpse is covered with shiny mucus or a semi-dry lubricant similar to yellow-red or brown fat.
If a corpse is exposed to conditions of low temperatures and low humidity, mold growth may be observed on the surface of the corpse. Unlike putrefactive microorganisms, mold can develop in an acidic environment (pH 5.0-6.0), at relatively low air humidity (75%) and low temperatures. Some types of mold grow at temperatures of 1-2 °C, while others grow at minus 8 °C and even lower.
Molds develop rather slowly, so molding of a corpse mainly occurs when it remains in the conditions noted above for a long time or in a refrigerator. Molds are aerobic microorganisms and, as a rule, develop most actively in those areas of the corpse on the surface of which air movement is most intense, as well as in more moist areas (groin and axillary folds, etc.).
Depending on the type, mold can grow in the form of round, velvety colonies of white, dark gray-brown or greenish-bluish, as well as black, located on the surface of the skin or penetrating into the thickness of soft tissue to a depth of 1.0 cm. Mold corpse is relatively rare, since psychrophilic aerobic bacteria actively reproducing on the surface of the corpse usually suppress the growth of mold fungi.
If the corpse has been in sea water for some time, or near fresh seafood, a faint glow on the surface of the corpse may be observed. This phenomenon is quite rare and is caused by the proliferation of photogenic (luminous) bacteria on the surface of the body, which have the ability to glow - phosphorescence. The luminescence is due to the presence in the cells of luminous bacteria of a photogenic substance (luciferin), which is oxidized by oxygen with the participation of the enzyme luciferase.
Photogenic bacteria are obligate aerobes and are psychrophilic; they reproduce well, but do not cause changes in the smell, consistency and other indicators of the corpse. The group of photobacteria includes various non-spore-forming gram-negative and gram-positive rods, cocci and vibrios. A typical representative of photogenic bacteria is Photobacterium phosphoreum (Photobact. phosphoreum) - a mobile coccus-like rod.
As putrification progresses, putrefactive gases are formed not only in the intestines, but also in the soft tissues and internal organs of the corpse.
On the 3-4th day of the development of putrefaction, upon palpation of the skin and muscles, crepitus is clearly felt, an increase in the accumulation of putrefactive gases in the subcutaneous fat and other tissues is noted - cadaveric emphysema develops. First of all, putrefactive gases appear in fatty tissue, then in muscles.
By the end of the second week, cadaveric gigantism develops - the penetration of gases into the soft tissues leads to an increase in the volume of the corpse. In a corpse, parts of the body sharply increase in size: the abdomen, chest, limbs, neck, in men the scrotum and penis, in women the mammary glands.
With putrefactive changes in the subcutaneous fat, the facial features change sharply: it becomes dark green or purple in color, swollen, the eyelids swell, the eyeballs protrude from the orbits, the lips increase in size and turn outward, the tongue protrudes from behind the mouth. Dirty-red ichorous fluid is discharged from the mouth and nose.
Rice. "Corpse gigantism." Increase in the size of the corpse due to the development of putrefactive emphysema
The pressure of putrefactive gases in the abdominal cavity can be quite significant and reach 1-2 atm., which leads to the development "posthumous birth" (grave birth, partus post mortem ) - squeezing out the fetus through the birth canal from the uterus of the corpse of a pregnant woman by gases formed in the abdominal cavity during the rotting of the corpse. As a result of the accumulation of putrefactive gases in the abdominal cavity, ectropion of the genital tract of the uterus and discharge of gastric contents from the oral cavity can also be observed ( "post-mortem vomiting" ).
Further increased pressure of putrefactive gases in the abdominal cavity and the gradually decreasing strength of the tissues of the anterior abdominal wall as decay develops lead to its rupture and eventration of the contents of the abdominal cavity.
Due to fluid transudation, around the end of the 1st week, putrefactive blisters containing reddish-brown foul-smelling ichor fluid form under the epidermis. Putrefactive blisters easily rupture, the epidermis is torn away, exposing the moist, reddish surface of the skin itself. Such manifestations of rotting mimic skin burns. Putrefactive changes in the skin cause hair loss or slight rejection.
On days 6-10, the epidermis completely peels off and with minor mechanical stress can be easily removed along with nails and hair.
Rice. Putrefactive rejection of the skin and nail plates
Subsequently, putrefactive gases escape from the corpse through damaged areas of the skin. The size of the corpse and its parts decreases. There is a softening of the nails and skin and their further separation. The skin becomes yellowish in color, easily tears, and becomes covered with papillae, which are similar in appearance to grains of sand and consist of phosphate of lime.
After two weeks, a reddish putrefactive liquid (ichor) begins to emerge from the natural orifices of the corpse, which should not be mistaken for traces of intravital bleeding.
Subsequently, the skin of the corpse becomes thinner, becomes thin, dirty yellow or orange with mold.
In the third week, the decomposition of the corpse intensifies. The tissues become more and more slimy and tear easily. The soft parts of the face collapse. The muscles are soft, the fiber begins to dry out (drying begins from the front and sides). The muscles of the eye sockets become saponified or turn green.
As putrefactive decay progresses, the formation of putrefactive gases stops, cadaveric emphysema disappears, and the volume of the corpse decreases. The processes of putrification soften and disorganize the tissues - the so-called putrefactive melting of the corpse occurs.
The subcutaneous tissue is partially saponified; as a result of the drying and collapse of cells previously stretched by putrefactive gases, it has a “damply” appearance when cut. Cartilages and ligaments turn yellow, become flabby and easily stretchable. The muscles become flabby and sticky, easily tear with slight stretching, transforming as they undergo putrification into a structureless brown-black mass or gray-yellow layers with indistinguishable muscle fibers. The bones, especially in those places where they are covered with a small amount of soft tissue, are exposed, the ribs are easily separated from the cartilage.
Rotting of internal organs occurs unevenly. Starting from the intestines and abdomen, it primarily affects the nearby abdominal organs (liver, pancreas and spleen). The macroscopic structure of the internal organs is completely lost as they rot. Internal organs decrease in volume, crepitate on palpation, easily flatten, and tear. Putrefactive gases destroy the structure of the parenchyma, cut organs acquire a “foamy”, “porous” appearance, the removed pieces of organs float on the surface of the water due to putrefactive gases.
The peritoneum becomes slimy and turns green. The mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines become brownish-purple in color, sometimes with small discolored areas. In some cases, there is perforation of the fundus of the stomach with spillage of gastric contents into the abdominal cavity or into the left pleural cavity. However, this phenomenon is not a consequence of rotting, but occurs as a result of cadaveric autolysis. The putrefactive process in the lungs is accompanied by the appearance of gas bubbles in the vessels, in the interstitial tissue and under the pleura.
The lungs are dark red in color and have a loose consistency, filled with bloody fluid. Gradually, as it rots, most of the ichor accumulates in the pleural cavities.
When rotting, lymph nodes are soft and can be of different colors: brown-red, greenish, dark brown, black.
The heart is flabby, the walls of the chambers are thinned, and on a section the myocardium is dirty red. Small white granules of calcareous deposits are noted on the surface of the endocardium and pericardium. The pericardium is macerated, the pericardial fluid is turbid, with flocculent sediment. In case of cadaveric hemolysis with tissue imbibition by blood pigment, the pericardial fluid from the admixture of hemoglobin may become brownish-red.
During the process of rotting, the liver softens, becomes dull, and emits a strong ammonia odor. First, the lower surface of the liver, and then both the anterior and posterior surfaces, become black. On the surface of the liver, “sandy” papillae made of phosphate of lime are visible. In the thickness of the parenchyma, multiple bubbles are formed, filled with putrefactive gases, which gives the liver tissue a honeycomb, foamy appearance when cut. The effusion and release of bile that occurs during decay outside the gallbladder leads to the appearance of a yellow-green coloration of the lower edge of the liver and adjacent tissues and organs.
The pancreas early undergoes rotting, during which it becomes flabby, with an indistinguishable structure, in the form of a gray mass.
The spleen decreases in size, flabby, the spleen pulp turns into a red-black or greenish-black, semi-liquid, sometimes foamy, due to the presence of gases, a foul-smelling mass.
Due to the topographical proximity of the spleen to the colon, hydrogen sulfide easily penetrates into it from the intestine in the first days after death, which combines with the iron in hemoglobin to form iron sulfide, which first colors the part of the spleen adjacent to the intestine, and later the entire organ greenish-black or bluish -black.
The brain completely loses its anatomical structure, the boundary of gray and white matter becomes indistinguishable, its consistency initially becomes mushy and then semi-liquid. Later than in other tissues, putrefactive decay of the bone marrow occurs. This is due to the late penetration of microorganisms into the bone marrow of the corpse.
The most resistant to decay are blood vessels, organ stroma, non-pregnant uterus, prostate and cartilage.
Complete putrefactive decay of the soft tissues of a corpse, under conditions favorable for the development of putrification processes, can occur after 3-4 weeks.
Histological examination in the presence of putrefactive changes is of relative importance. With moderately severe rotting in the lungs, “stamped” alveoli are determined, the outlines of the bronchi and charcoal pigment are visible, and Gram-positive rods can be found in the lung parenchyma, forming figures in the form of threads and brushes.
As a result of putrefactive transformation, liver tissue quickly loses its histological structure; due to diffusion of bile and blood into the parenchyma, a lot of greenish-brown pigment is found in it. During the processes of cadaveric softening and decay, spleen follicles are preserved better than pulp elements. Even with complete putrefactive decay of the pulp cells, the nuclei of the lymphoid elements of the follicles still give color. When the spleen is fixed in formalin, the formalin pigment easily falls out and settles on the pulp cells, which leads to pigmentation of the spleen tissue, stroma and red blood cells, which makes microscopic examination difficult.
The kidneys, compared to the liver, are more resistant to decay and are histologically verified by the outlines of the glomeruli and blood vessels.
A microscopic examination of putrefactively changed lymph nodes reveals the disappearance of the nuclear coloring of the lymphoid elements and their disintegration. Stromal elements remain somewhat longer in the lymph nodes.
The decay of muscle tissue is accompanied by a change in the structure of the muscle fibers: their transverse striations smooth out and disappear, the nuclei are weakly stained, fine-grained decay, divergence and complete destruction of the muscle fibers are observed.
In case of slightly pronounced decay, histological examination allows us to identify some pathological changes, and with complete destruction of cellular elements, differentiate organs based on the structure of the organ stroma and blood vessels. For example, it is possible to establish sclerotic changes and calcification of large arterial vessels even several months after death; sometimes fragments of powder grains can be found in putrefactively transformed parenchyma. However, in most cases, with pronounced putrification, microscopic examination of the material can add practically nothing to the data of macroscopic examination.
When conducting a forensic chemical study of corpse material in a state of putrefactive transformation and interpreting its results, it should be taken into account that a number of substances formed in the tissues of corpses during decay can give the same reactions as some poisons of organic origin.
This circumstance can significantly complicate the process of detection and quantitative determination of poisons during chemical-toxicological analysis, and can also cause erroneous conclusions about the presence of poisons in the organs of corpses.
Thus, great care is required in assessing the alcohol content in putrefactively altered biological material.
It should be taken into account that as a result of the vital activity of a number of bacteria taking part in the putrification of corpses, the oxidation of amino acids and fats occurs with the formation of alcohols, the mixture of which contains methyl, ethyl and higher alcohols. Under the influence of E. coli enzymes, various amounts of propyl, butyl and methyl alcohols are formed from glucose. Amyl alcohol is formed from leucine, and isobutyl alcohol from valine.
The quantitative content of posthumously formed alcohols is, as a rule, insignificant and ranges from 0.5 ppm, but occasionally it can reach 1.0 ppm or more.
The exception is those cases when yeast flora is present in the cadaveric material. At the same time, the amount of posthumously formed alcohols, in particular ethyl alcohol, can reach toxicologically significant levels.
During the putrefactive decomposition of corpses, some toxic substances that caused poisoning also undergo chemical changes.
The speed and intensity of transformations of toxic substances in a putrified corpse depends on a number of general factors influencing the process of decay, as well as on the chemical nature of the poisons, the palette of the corpse's bacterial flora, access to air, moisture, time of decay, and other conditions.
Toxins of organic origin in rotting corpses undergo oxidation, reduction, deamination, desulfurization and other transformations, which leads to their relatively rapid decomposition.
Esters decompose most quickly, within a few days or weeks after death, but some toxic substances (atropine, cocaine, etc.) belonging to this class of compounds can be found in corpses several months or years after death.
Inorganic toxic substances in cadaveric material last longer, undergoing reduction reactions during the rotting of corpses. Metal ions in inorganic poisons that have a higher valence are reduced to ions with a lower valence. Compounds of arsenic, phosphorus, sulfur and other non-metals can be reduced to form volatile compounds of these elements with hydrogen.
Arsenic and thallium compounds can persist in corpses for about 8-9 years, barium and antimony compounds for about 5 years, mercury compounds can persist in corpses for several months. After this, inorganic poisons penetrate the soil and cannot always be detected in the remains of rotting or decayed corpses.
Despite the fact that the general biochemical nature of decay is quite constant, individual characteristics of the putrification process are quite labile and depend on a number of factors:
Environmental conditions;
location of the corpse (outdoors, in water, in the ground);
anthropometric characteristics of the corpse;
the nature of the clothing on the corpse;
age of the deceased;
presence of damage;
causes of death;
medications taken before death;
microflora composition, etc.
Temperature and humidity of the environment directly affect the rate of putrefactive transformation of a corpse. The most optimal conditions for the life of putrefactive microorganisms occur at a temperature of + 30 -37 ° C, high humidity and access to air oxygen. Rotting almost completely stops when the body temperature of the deceased is about 0 °C and above + 55 °C and slows down sharply in the range from 0 °C to +10 °C, due to unfavorable temperature conditions for the proliferation of putrefactive microorganisms.
Under appropriate temperature and humidity conditions, the development of putrefactive microorganisms in a corpse is extremely rapid, which leads to the fact that decay in time can outstrip the process of autolysis.
If after death the process of tissue drying (mummification) develops, then decay gradually slows down and then stops altogether.
In conditions of high humidity (for example, when a corpse is in water), the progress of decay sharply slows down, which is explained by a lower concentration of oxygen and a lower temperature. In dry, sandy, well-ventilated soil, rot develops faster than in dense, clayey, poorly ventilated soil. Corpses buried in coffins and wearing clothes rot more slowly than those buried in the ground without clothes.
Cases of almost complete absence of putrefactive changes have been described after a long period of time after burial (up to 53 years) when the corpse was in metal coffins (zinc, lead). The rotting of a corpse in the ground proceeds eight times slower than in the air.
The development of putrefaction is greatly influenced by the individual characteristics of the corpse.
The corpses of children undergo putrefactive decomposition faster than the corpses of adults, while at the same time the corpses of newborns and stillborns rot more slowly due to the absence of putrefactive flora.
In the corpses of overweight people, decay develops faster than in the corpses of thin or emaciated people.
Accelerated decay is observed when the onset of death was accompanied by severe agony, death, in cases of death from infectious diseases, with septic complications, with extensive damage to the skin, with overheating (so-called heat or sunstroke), as well as with some intoxications.
Slowing down of decay is observed in cases of death from massive blood loss, during lifetime use of antibiotics, sulfonamide and other antimicrobial drugs.
During dismemberment, which is always accompanied by a sharp bleeding of body parts, slowing down the processes of decay leads to a longer preservation of parts of the dismembered corpse.
The rotting of a corpse while it is in water has its own distinctive features. Rotting in a body of water with running water occurs more slowly than in stagnant water. When a corpse hits the bottom of a reservoir with great depth, where the water temperature is. +4 °C and high pressure, the rotting process may not develop for many months.
When a corpse is located at the depth of a reservoir, its decay proceeds relatively slowly and evenly. After being in water for two weeks, the corpse begins to lose hair, and hydrodepilation is completely completed by the end of the month.
Putrefactive gases accumulating in the tissues and cavities of the corpse increase its buoyancy, due to which the corpse floats to the surface of the water. The lifting force of putrefactive gases is so great that a corpse weighing 60-70 kg can float up along with a load weighing about 30 kg. At a water temperature of 23-25°C, the corpse floats to the surface of the water on the 3rd day; at a water temperature of 17-19°C, the corpse floats on the 7-12th day; in colder water, the corpse floats after 2-3 weeks.
After the corpse floats to the surface of the water, the process of decay intensifies abruptly and proceeds unevenly. The soft tissues of the face swell and turn green, while other parts of the body may be slightly affected by decay. Subsequently, the entire body swells sharply and the corpse becomes disfigured, the abdomen swells sharply, the corpse takes on the appearance of a “giant,” which can lead to errors in identifying the body of an unknown person. The scrotum especially increases in volume, the tissues of which can rupture under the influence of gases.
In warm weather, corpses removed from water in the air very quickly decompose. Within a few hours, signs of decay appear - a dirty green color of the skin, a putrid venous network. Due to the fact that the development of putrification processes is influenced by a large number of factors, which are not always possible to take into account in the aggregate, a forensic medical determination of the duration of death by the nature and severity of putrefactive changes can only be carried out tentatively.
Putrefactive transformations of a corpse make very noticeable changes in the structure of tissues and organs, destroying many pathological changes that existed during life, however, forensic medical examination of corpses should be carried out regardless of the degree of decay. Even with pronounced putrefactive changes, during a forensic medical examination it is possible to detect damage and other signs that will make it possible to establish the cause of death and resolve other issues that arise before the expert.
Forensic medical expert, associate professor of the Department of Forensic Medicine of the Russian National Research Medical University. N.I. Pirogov Ministry of Health of Russia, Candidate of Medical Sciences. Sciences, Associate Professor Tumanov E.V. T Umanov E.V., Kildyushov E.M., Sokolova Z.Yu. Forensic medical thanatology - M.: YurInfoZdrav, 2011. - 172 p.
Many of our body's functions continue to function for minutes, hours, days, and even weeks after death. It's hard to believe, but incredible things happen to our body.
If you are ready for hard-hitting details, then this information is for you.
1. Nail and hair growth
This is more of a technical feature than an actual feature. The body no longer produces hair or nail tissue, but both continue to grow for several days after death. In fact, the skin loses moisture and pulls back slightly, revealing more hair and making your nails appear longer. Since we measure the length of hair and nails from the point where the hair emerges from the skin, it technically means that they "grow" after death.
2. Brain activity
One of the side effects of modern technology is the blurring of time between life and death. The brain may shut down completely, but the heart will still beat. If the heart stops for a minute and there is no breathing, then the person dies, and doctors declare the person dead even when the brain is technically still alive for several minutes. During this time, brain cells try to seek out oxygen and nutrients to support life to such an extent that most often it leads to irreparable damage, even if the heart is made to beat again. These minutes before complete damage can be extended, with the help of certain medications and under the right circumstances, to several days. Ideally, this would give doctors a chance to save you, but this is not guaranteed.
3. Skin cell growth
This is another function of different parts of our body that declines at different rates. While loss of circulation can kill the brain in minutes, other cells don't need a constant supply. Skin cells that live on the outer layer of our body are accustomed to receiving what they can through a process called osmosis, and can live for several days.
4. Urination
We believe that urination is a voluntary function, although its absence is not a conscious action. In principle, we don’t have to think about this, since a certain part of the brain is responsible for this function. The same area is involved in regulating breathing and heart rate, which explains why people often experience involuntary urination if they get drunk. The fact is that the part of the brain that keeps the urinary sphincter closed is suppressed, and very large amounts of alcohol can shut down the regulation of breathing and heart functions, and therefore alcohol can be really dangerous.
Although rigor mortis causes the muscles to stiffen, this does not happen until several hours after death. Immediately after death, the muscles relax, which causes urination.
5. Defecation
We all know that during times of stress, our body gets rid of waste. Some muscles just relax and an awkward situation occurs. But in the event of death, all this is also facilitated by the gas that is released inside the body. This can happen several hours after death. Considering that the fetus in the womb also performs the act of defecation, we can say that this is the first and last thing that we do in our lives.
6. Digestion
7. Erection and ejaculation
When the heart stops pumping blood throughout the body, the blood collects in the lowest place. Sometimes people die standing, sometimes lying face down, and therefore many people understand where blood can collect. Meanwhile, not all muscles in our body relax. Some types of muscle cells are activated by calcium ions. Once activated, cells expend energy by extracting calcium ions. After death, our membranes become more permeable to calcium and the cells do not expend as much energy to push out the ions and the muscles contract. This leads to rigor mortis and even ejaculation.
8. Muscle movements
Although the brain may die, other areas of the nervous system may be active. Nurses have repeatedly noticed reflex actions in which nerves send a signal to the spinal cord rather than the brain, leading to muscle twitching and spasms after death. There is even evidence of small movements of the chest after death.
9. Vocalization
Essentially, our body is filled with gas and mucus supported by bones. Rotting occurs when bacteria begin to act and the proportion of gases increases. Since most of the bacteria are inside our body, the gas accumulates inside.
Rigor mortis leads to the stiffening of many muscles, including those that work on the vocal cords, and this combination can result in eerie sounds emanating from the dead body. So there is evidence of how people heard the groans and creaks of dead people.
10. Birth of a child
These are horrifying scenes that one doesn't even want to imagine, but there were times when women died during pregnancy and were not buried, which led to the emergence of a term called "posthumous fetal expulsion." Gases accumulating inside the body, combined with softening of the flesh, lead to expulsion of the fetus.
Although such cases are very rare and the subject of much speculation, they have been documented in the period before proper embalming and rapid burial. All this seems like a description from a horror movie, but such things really happen, and this makes us once again glad that we live in the modern world.
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Rotting is a complex set of processes of decay of corpse tissue, occurring as a result of the vital activity of microorganisms that rapidly multiply after the death of a person, when all the protective and immune barriers that restrain this reproduction during life disappear. Rotting mainly occurs from the action of aerobic bacteria that live in the human body during his life: Escherichia coli, Proteus group, Bacillus subtilis group, cocci. Anaerobic microorganisms have less impact. The specific putrefactive odor is caused mainly by hydrogen sulfide and its derivatives, mercaptans, formed during the breakdown of proteins.
The first clear signs of rotting of a corpse may appear within a day after death. They are expressed in a dirty green coloration of the skin of the iliac regions due to the formation of sulfhemoglobin in the vessels of the abdominal wall (a product of the combination of hemoglobin with hydrogen sulfide). Further, at an ambient temperature of + 20 - + 35 ° C, rotting usually develops as follows. The dirty green coloration spreads to the trunk, head and limbs and by the end of the second week covers the skin of the entire corpse. Against this background, brown stripes of a tree-like branching subcutaneous venous network often appear.
As a result of the formation of a large amount of putrefactive gases, the corpse swells, its facial features change. All corpses at this stage of decay take on almost the same appearance, which makes their identification difficult (Fig. 89). When palpating the corpse, a crunch is felt from the developed subcutaneous putrefactive emphysema. Due to fluid transudation, approximately 4-6 days after death, blisters filled with foul-smelling contents begin to form.
A sharp swelling of the corpse can lead to tears in clothing, and in some places the skin of the corpse bursts, sometimes simulating damage. An increase in intra-abdominal pressure can cause post-mortem “birth” in deceased pregnant women and post-mortem “vomiting” from squeezing food masses out of the stomach. Hair, nails and epidermis are separated from rotten corpses with minor mechanical stress. Simultaneously with the external manifestations of rotting, the internal organs disintegrate. The brain decomposes faster than others; it turns into a greenish, structureless mushy mass.
Due to the destruction of the skin and muscle tissue, gases are released from the corpse into the environment, it gradually decreases in size, and the ongoing processes of decay lead to the complete destruction of soft tissue. What remains is a skeleton covered with a dirty sticky mass. The cartilage and ligamentous apparatus are destroyed most recently, but the bones can persist for many years. Under favorable conditions, the soft tissues of a corpse located on the surface of the earth can completely decompose within 3-4 summer months. Rotting occurs somewhat more slowly in water and even more slowly in corpses buried in the ground. The soft tissues of a corpse in a wooden coffin are completely destroyed within 2-3 years.
The rate of decomposition of a corpse is influenced by a large number of endo- and exogenous factors, so it is almost impossible to judge how long ago death occurred based on the severity of decay. Optimal conditions for the life of bacteria and, accordingly, for the development of rotting consist of a certain ratio of temperature and humidity. Rotting develops most quickly at an ambient temperature of about + 30 -4- + 40 ° C and moderate humidity. It stops completely at temperatures around 0 °C and above + 55 °C and slows down sharply in the temperature range from 0 °C to + 10 °C. In winter, corpses can remain in cold rooms for several weeks without signs of rotting.
During decay, significant changes in the concentration of alcohol in the tissues and fluids of the corpse occur, and this is associated not only with the post-mortem diffusion of alcohol from the stomach, but also with its post-mortem formation and destruction in the rotting tissues. Therefore, when examining alcohol intoxication in cases of examining corpses in a state of pronounced putrefactive decomposition, only one question can be resolved - whether the deceased took alcohol shortly before death [Novikov P.I., 1967]. For forensic chemical research in these cases, the muscles of the limbs, the stomach with its contents and urine are removed.
When corpses are buried in dry sandy soil and in crypts, when they are in summer in attics under iron roofs and in other similar conditions with sufficient ventilation in the presence of dry warm air, the decay processes quickly stop and the corpse is mummified. At
mummification, the corpse dries out, its soft tissues become hard, the skin becomes brownish-brown, sometimes almost black
The color and its mass decrease sharply.
The corpses of children and emaciated persons undergo mummification more quickly. There are artificial and natural mummification. An example of the first is not only the mummies of the ancient Egyptians, but also the mummification that occurs after the modern preservation of the corpse.
The forensic medical significance of mummification lies primarily in the fact that it preserves, to one degree or another, the external appearance of the corpse, and this makes it possible to determine its gender, height, age, identify injuries and individual anatomical features, and, in some cases, make identification.
The significance of mummification for establishing the duration of death is small, since the rate of drying depends on a combination of many factors that are difficult to account for. It is believed that complete mummification of an adult corpse occurs in 6-12 months, but it can occur faster, even in 30-35 days.
If a corpse falls into cold water or wet clay soil, then rotting also soon stops, and after some time the soft tissues of the corpse turn into fat wax.
The process of fat wax formation consists of the decomposition of fats into glycerol and fatty acids (oleic, palmitic, stearic), and the latter, reacting with calcium and magnesium salts contained in water or soil, form solid and water-insoluble soaps. Therefore, the chemical composition of fatty wax is a mixture of solid fatty acids and their salts (soaps).
The tissues of a corpse, which are in a state of fat wax, appear in the form of a dense, homogeneous amorphous mass, in which only in places individual elements of their histological structure can be identified. Externally, the fat wax has the appearance of a gray-pink or gray-yellow mass with a fairly dense consistency, crumbling in places and emitting an unpleasant rancid odor. The formation of adipose wax begins within 2-3 months after the corpse enters the appropriate conditions, and for the complete transformation of all tissues and organs into adipose wax, a period of about 1 year is needed. Children's corpses turn into fat wax faster - after 4-5 months.
Due to the absence of any patterns in the rate of fat wax formation, this phenomenon can be used to determine the duration of death with great caution. The forensic meaning of adipose wax is similar to that of mummification. The fat wax to some extent preserves the appearance of the corpse and the damage present on it. During a forensic chemical study, poisons, in particular alcohol, can be detected.
Peat tanning
This type of late preservative change occurs in cases where the corpse ends up in a peat bog. A large amount of humic acids and other tanning substances found in peat are dissolved in the water of such swamps. Under their influence, the corpse seems to be tanned, the skin thickens and acquires a dark brown color, the internal organs sharply decrease in size, and the bones become soft. A peat-tanned corpse is preserved for many years.
Other types of natural corpse preservation
Corpses are well preserved at low ambient temperatures, when exposed to water with a high concentration of salts, oil and other liquids with preservative properties. Frozen corpses persist indefinitely.
British scientists decided to study how the body decomposes and organized an experiment by laying out 65 pig carcasses in the open air.
These studies will help in the future to determine burial sites, including relatively old ones, using a specially designed device.
Officially, it takes 15 years for a body to completely decompose in a coffin. However, re-burial is allowed after approximately 11-13 years after the first. It is believed that during this time both the deceased and his final resting place will completely decompose, and the earth can be reused. Most often, this period is sufficient for the almost complete disappearance of the corpse. Thanatology and forensic medicine deal with post-mortem mechanisms of the body, including partly the study of how a body decomposes in a coffin.
Immediately after death, self-digestion of human internal organs and tissues begins. And with it, after some time, rotting. Before a funeral, processes are slowed down by embalming or refrigerating the body to make the person appear more presentable. But underground there are no longer any restraining factors. And decomposition destroys the body in full swing. As a result, all that remains is bones and chemical compounds: gases, salts and liquids.
In fact, a corpse is a complex ecosystem. It is a habitat and breeding ground for a large number of microorganisms. The system develops and grows with the decomposition of its habitat. Immunity turns off soon after death - and microbes and microorganisms populate all tissues and organs. They feed on cadaveric fluids and provoke further development of decay. Over time, all tissues completely rot or decay, leaving a bare skeleton. But it too may soon collapse, leaving only individual, especially strong bones.
What happens in the coffin after a year
After a year has passed after death, the process of decomposition of residual soft tissue sometimes continues. Often, when excavating graves, it is noted that after a year after death, the cadaveric smell is no longer present - the rotting is complete. And the remaining tissues either slowly smolder, releasing mainly nitrogen and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, or there is simply nothing left to smolder. Because only the skeleton remained.
Skeletonization is the stage of decomposition of the body when only one skeleton remains. What happens to the deceased in the coffin about a year after death. Sometimes some tendons or particularly dense and dry areas of the body may still remain. Next will be the process of mineralization. It can last for a very long time - up to 30 years. Whatever remains of the deceased’s body will lose all “extra” minerals. As a result, what remains of a person is an unfastened pile of bones. The skeleton falls apart because the joint capsules, muscles and tendons that hold the bones together no longer exist. And it can remain in this form for an unlimited amount of time. At the same time, the bones become very fragile.
What happens to the coffin after burial?
Most modern coffins are made from ordinary pine boards. Such material is short-lived in conditions of constant humidity and will last in the ground for a couple of years. After that, he turns into dust and fails. Therefore, when digging up old graves, it’s good to find several rotten boards that were once a coffin. The service life of the final resting place of the deceased can be somewhat extended by varnishing it. Other, harder and more durable types of wood may not rot for a longer period of time. And especially rare, metal coffins are quietly stored in the ground for decades.
As a corpse decomposes, it loses fluid and slowly turns into a collection of substances and minerals. Since a person is 70% water, it needs to go somewhere. It leaves the body in all possible ways and seeps through the bottom boards into the ground. This obviously does not extend the life of the tree; excess moisture only provokes its rotting.
How a man decomposes in a coffin
During decomposition, the human body necessarily goes through several stages. They can vary in time depending on the burial environment and the condition of the corpse. The processes that occur with the dead in the coffin ultimately leave the body with a bare skeleton.
Most often, the coffin with the deceased is buried after three days from the date of death. This is due not only to customs, but also to simple biology. If after five to seven days the corpse is not buried, then this will have to be done in a closed coffin. Because by this time autolysis and decay will have developed en masse, and internal organs will slowly begin to collapse. This can lead to putrefactive emphysema throughout the body, leakage of bloody fluid from the mouth and nose. Now the process can be stopped by embalming the body or keeping it in the refrigerator.
What happens to the corpse in the coffin after burial is reflected in several different processes. Collectively, they are called decomposition, which, in turn, is divided into several stages. Decomposition begins immediately after death. But it begins to manifest itself only after some time, without limiting factors - within a couple of days.
Autolysis
The very first stage of decomposition, which begins almost immediately after death. Autolysis is also called “self-digestion.” Tissues are digested under the influence of the breakdown of cell membranes and the release of enzymes from cellular structures. The most important of these are cathepsins. This process does not depend on any microorganisms and begins independently. Internal organs such as the brain and adrenal medulla, spleen, and pancreas undergo autolysis most quickly, as they contain the largest amount of cathepsin. Somewhat later, all the cells of the body enter into the process. This provokes rigor mortis due to the release of calcium from the intercellular fluid and its combination with troponin. Against this background, actin and myosin combine, which causes muscle contraction. The cycle cannot be completed due to the lack of ATP, so the muscles are fixed and relaxed only after they have begun to decompose.
Autolysis is partly facilitated by various bacteria that spread throughout the body from the intestines, feeding on the fluid flowing from decomposing cells. They literally “spread” throughout the body through the blood vessels. The liver is primarily affected. However, bacteria reach it within the first twenty hours from the moment of death, first promoting autolysis and then rotting.
Rotting
In parallel with autolysis, a little later than its onset, rotting also develops. The rate of decay depends on several factors:
- The state of a person during life.
- Circumstances of his death.
Soil humidity and temperature. - Density of clothing.
It begins with the mucous membranes and skin. This process can develop quite early if the soil of the grave is wet, and in the circumstances of death there is blood poisoning. However, it develops more slowly in cold regions or if the corpse contains insufficient moisture. Some strong poisons and thick clothing also help slow it down.
It is noteworthy that many myths about “moaning corpses” are associated specifically with rotting. This is called vocalization. When a corpse decomposes, gas is formed, which primarily occupies the cavities. When the body has not yet rotted, it exits through natural openings. When the gas passes through the vocal cords, which are constrained by stiff muscles, the output is sound. Most often this is a wheezing or something similar to a groan. Rigor rigor most often passes just in time for the funeral, so in rare cases a terrifying sound can be heard from a coffin that has not yet been buried.
What happens to the body in the coffin at this stage begins with the hydrolysis of proteins by proteases of microbes and dead cells of the body. Proteins begin to break down gradually, to polypeptides and below. At the output, free amino acids remain instead. It is as a result of their subsequent transformation that a corpse smell arises. At this stage, the growth of mold on the corpse and colonization of it by maggots and nematodes can speed up the process. They mechanically destroy tissues, thereby accelerating their decay.
The liver, stomach, intestines and spleen are the most susceptible to decomposition in this way, due to the abundance of enzymes in them. In this regard, very often the peritoneum of the deceased bursts. During decay, corpse gas is released, which fills the natural cavities of a person (swells him from the inside). The flesh is gradually destroyed and exposes the bones, turning into a fetid grayish pulp.
The following external manifestations can be considered clear signs of the onset of rotting:
- Greening of the corpse (formation of sulfhemoglobin in the ileal region from hydrogen sulfide and hemoglobin).
- Putrefactive vascular network (blood that does not leave the veins rots, and hemoglobin forms iron sulfide).
- Cadaveric emphysema (the pressure of the gas produced during putrefaction swells the corpse. It can invert the pregnant uterus).
- Glowing of a corpse in the dark (production of hydrogen phosphide, occurs in rare cases).
Smoldering
A corpse decomposes most quickly in the first six months after burial. However, instead of rotting, smoldering may begin - in cases where there is not enough moisture and too much oxygen for the former. But sometimes decay can begin after partial rotting of the corpse.
For it to occur, it is necessary that enough oxygen enters the body and not a lot of moisture enters. With it, the production of corpse gas stops. The release of carbon dioxide begins.
Another way is mummification or saponification
In some cases, rotting and decay do not occur. This can happen due to the processing of the body, its condition, or an environment unfavorable for these processes. What happens to the dead person in the coffin in this case? As a rule, there are two options left - the corpse either mummifies - it dries out so much that it cannot decompose normally, or it is saponified - a fat wax is formed.
Mummification occurs naturally when a corpse is buried in very dry soil. The body is well mummified when there was severe dehydration during life, which was aggravated by cadaveric desiccation after death.
In addition, there is artificial mummification through embalming or other chemical treatment, which can stop decomposition.
Fat wax is the opposite of mummification. It is formed in a very humid environment, when the corpse does not have access to the oxygen necessary for rotting and decay. In this case, the body begins to saponify (otherwise called anaerobic bacterial hydrolysis). The main component of fat wax is ammonia soap. All subcutaneous fat, muscles, skin, mammary glands and brain are converted into it. Everything else either does not change (bones, nails, hair) or rots.
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