cooling of the body after death
algor mortis
the injury or condition responsible for a person's death (such as heart attack)
cause of death
a physician who performs autopsies, determines the cause and manner of death, and oversees death investigations
medical examiner
the breakdown of cells as they self-digest
autolysis
the pooling of blood in tissues after death that results in a red skin color
livor mortis
one of the five ways a person's death is classified (natural, accidental suicidal, homicidal, or undetermined)
manner of death
an elected official , either a layman or physician, who certifies deaths and can order additional investigations of suspicious deaths
coroner
medical examination to determine the cause of death
autopsy
the stiffening of the skeletal muscles after death
rigor mortis
mechanism of death
the breakdown of one living matter by living organisms
decomposition
destruction of soft tissue by bacteria that results in the release of waste gas and fluids
putrefaction