Death Investigation Vocabulary

a physician who performs autopsies, determines the cause and manner of death, and oversees death investigations

The cooling of the body after death

the injury, condition, or disease responsible for a person's death (such as heart attack or kidney failure)

the pooling of the blood in tissues after death due to gravity that results in a red skin color

the stiffening of the skeletal muscles after death

medical professionals used to provide evidence on medical and legal issues

A fatty or waxy substance produced during the decomposition of dead bodies exposed to moisture

one of five ways in which a person's death is classified (i.e., natural, accidental, suicidal, homicidal, or undetermined)

the destruction of soft tissue by bacteria that results in the release of waste gases and fluids

the specific physiological, physical, or chemical event that stops life

a medical doctor specifically trained to perform autopsies to determine the presence or absence of disease, injury, or poisoning

an elected official, either a layman or a physician, who certifies deaths and can order additional investigations of suspicious deaths

the breakdown of cells as they self-digest

the breakdown of once-living matter

a medical examination to determine the cause of death

red spots in the white of the eyes that form due to capillary rupture in blood vessels of the eye