Corpse decomposition
[5] At this stage, the microorganisms residing in the digestive system begin to digest the tissues of the body, excreting gases that cause the torso and limbs to bloat, and producing foul-smelling chemicals including putrescine and cadaverine.
[7]: 153–162 Decomposition of the gastrointestinal tract results in a dark, foul-smelling liquid called "purge fluid" that is forced out of the nose and mouth due to gas pressure in the intestine.
Blowflies target decomposing corpses early on, using specialized smell receptors, and lay their eggs in orifices and open wounds.
[8] The size and development stage of maggots can be used to give a measure of the minimum time since death.
The depth of burial will influence the rate of decomposition as it will deter decomposers such as scavengers and insects.
The rate of loss of heat is higher in water and the progression through algor mortis is therefore faster.
[17] Factors affecting decomposition include water depth, temperature, tides, currents, seasons, dissolved oxygen, geology, acidity, salinity, sedimentation, and insect and scavenging activity.
[18] Human remains found in aquatic surroundings are often incomplete and poorly preserved, making investigating the circumstances of death much more difficult.
Adipocere is a wax-like substance that covers bodies created by the hydrolysis of triglycerides in adipose tissue.
[22] Clothing and other types of coverings affect the rate of decomposition because it limits the body's exposure to external factors such as weathering and soil.
[2] However, insect activity would increase since the wrapping will harbor more heat and protection from the sun, providing an ideal environment for maggot growth which facilitates organic decay.
[23] Corpse farms are used to study the decay of the human body and to gain insight into how environmental and endogenous factors affect progression through the stages of decomposition.
[8] In summer, high temperatures can accelerate the stages of decomposition: heat encourages the breakdown of organic material, and bacteria also grow faster in a warm environment, accelerating bacterial digestion of tissue.
However, natural mummification, normally thought of as a consequence of arid conditions, can occur if the remains are exposed to intense sunlight.
