What is algor mortis?

• A. Cooling of the body after death
• B. Rigor mortis
• C. Pooling of blood
• D. Decomposition

Answer: (D)

Algor mortis is the cooling of the body after death. After circulation and metabolism stop, the body gradually loses heat to the surrounding environment until it reaches ambient temperature. The rate of cooling depends on factors like room temperature, air movement, the body's size and fat content, whether it’s clothed or covered, and humidity. This change, used alongside other postmortem changes, helps estimate time since death. For comparison, rigor mortis is the stiffening of muscles, livor mortis is the pooling of blood in dependent areas causing discoloration, and decomposition is the breakdown of tissues by bacteria and enzymes.