Which term describes the pooling of blood after death?

Which term describes the pooling of blood after death?

• A. Livor mortis
• B. Rigor mortis
• C. Algor mortis
• D. Intrinsic mortis

Answer: (A)

Blood pooling after death is called livor mortis. When circulation stops, gravity pulls the blood toward the lowest parts of the body, causing a reddish-purple discoloration in those dependent areas. This lividity helps indicate the body’s position after death and, to some extent, the time since death as the coloration develops and then becomes fixed. It’s distinct from rigor mortis, which is the stiffening of muscles, and from algor mortis, the cooling of the body. The term intrinsic mortis isn’t used in forensic terminology.

Blood pooling after death is called livor mortis. When circulation stops, gravity pulls the blood toward the lowest parts of the body, causing a reddish-purple discoloration in those dependent areas. This lividity helps indicate the body’s position after death and, to some extent, the time since death as the coloration develops and then becomes fixed. It’s distinct from rigor mortis, which is the stiffening of muscles, and from algor mortis, the cooling of the body. The term intrinsic mortis isn’t used in forensic terminology.