How does the human body change after death?

After the person breathes the last breath, the body begins the process of decomposition: the cells are broken down, the body hardens, the organs self-destroy .

Learn the processes of body transformation after death

Every one of us has come to "go back to dust ". However, have you ever wondered, after your death, what will your body be like?

Williams (28) from North Texas states America works in a morgue. Her job was mainly to collect and handle corpses before informing the family members of their funeral.

She said, the fresher the corpse (newly dead), the easier it is to handle. The cases where the victims are lonely people who have died a few days, even a few weeks, the dead bodies begin to decompose very difficult to handle.

The following article will help you get an overview of the process that will happen to our body after leaving the world.

1. The process of self-decomposition

Although we are dead, the cells in our body are still inactive. These cells will begin a new cycle - the cycle of self-decomposition.

After the heart stops beating, some cells in the brain and liver will start their own digestive process. Because cells are severely deficient in oxygen, enzymes begin to attack cell membranes, causing their structures to break down. This process is called autolysis, the first stage of decomposition.

All tissue in other organs then decompose in this way. The phenomenon of autolysis usually begins in the liver and brain, then occurs in all internal organs. The skin begins to change color due to rupture of blood vessel cells, blood cells spill, along with the effect of gravity concentrating on capillaries and small veins.

Meanwhile, the body quickly depletes its oxygen reserves.Body temperature begins to decline until it is equal to ambient temperature. At this time, the body begins to contract - starting from the eyelids, jaw and neck bone, then to the abdomen and finally the limbs. The muscles are more solid and lock the joints.

2. The body becomes the "ecosystem" of bacteria

In the first stage after death, the human body becomes an ' ecosystem' of bacteria. Each body part provides a habitat for specialized bacterial communities of thousands of different types.

When the immune system stops working, bacteria spread freely throughout the body. Starting from the intestine, then gradually "digest" the surrounding intestinal tissue, from the inside out to spread intestinal bacteria. They eat what remains of the body's tissues and organs. Bacteria produce methane (CH4), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and ammonia (NH3). These gases build up, forming pressure that causes the belly to swell. Pressure also causes the body's internal fluids to leak out in the nose, ears, and mouth.

Liquid in the body comes out when the cells are broken down - abundant food sources for bacteria. Gradually, they invade capillaries and gastrointestinal lymph nodes , liver, spleen, and then into the heart and brain.

This conclusion was made after Javan, an autopsy scientist and colleagues, took samples of 11 corpses of liver, spleen, brain and heart after they had lost 20 to 240 hours.

By analyzing DNA , the expert found that the difference in the microbiome component - referred to as the second genome of the person assuming the time of death.

Accordingly, it takes 20 hours for bacteria to enter the liver and after 58 hours, new bacteria attack other parts such as spleen, stomach, uterus . and then to the heart, bone.

It is clear that different bacterial components bind to different stages of decomposition.

3. The body begins to rot

Decay is the process of destroying soft tissue, converting into gas, liquid and salt. First, anaerobic bacteria attack soft tissue on the body, converting sugar into other gaseous forms that accumulate inside the body, causing the abdomen and other organs to expand.

Next, they alter red blood cells in the blood , causing the corpse to turn dark blue. Gas continues to be produced in the body, causing pressure and causing blisters throughout the skin surface.

Finally, that pressure makes the liquid and gaseous tissues inside the body leak out, from the anus, skin rashes. Sometimes the pressure is too great for the body to be podium .

4. The banquet of maggots, animals that eat corpses

After the body is buried in the ground, all kinds of maggots, animals will " crept " and enjoy their banquet. Each corpse contains a unique microbial signature upon which the forensic body finds the time and place with the cause of death.

Experts have studied the application of entomology to forensic examiners so that we can gather more information from corpses.

Accordingly, it is estimated that an average human body contains 50-75% water , each kg of body weight will release 32g of nitrogen, 10g of phosphorus, 4g of potassium and 1g of magnesium into the ground.

The gases released from the body will kill the surrounding vegetation due to nitrogen poisoning or antibiotics in the body . but then, the decomposing corpses create an ecosystem fertile, new variety around the land is buried.