Algor mortis

Algor mortis - Latin: algor ( m. ) = " cold " and mors = "death" - also dead cold or corpse cold is the medical term for the reduced body temperature after the occurrence of death due to failure of the heat-generating oxidative metabolic processes in the body.

In this case, the temperature of similar to (usually lower ) ambient temperature, initially builds a temperature gradient between body core to the body shell, influenced by heat radiation and evaporation from the body surface and by convection (heat transport by the air flow ) and conduction ( heat conduction, depending of where and how the body is located ). With so many different factors, but also a given that a provision of Algor mortis often has only a low predictive value in relation to the time of any death.

He is one of the signs of death uncertain, because even living persons may have hypothermia.

As a rule of thumb: After the occurrence of death, the body temperature drops (approx. 37 ° C) to room temperature (approx. 21 ° C) with about 0.833 ° C per hour, that is, the temperature compensation occurred after about 19 hours.

Is measured rectally deep at a distance of 8 cm from the sphincter.

  • Forensic Medicine
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