Postmortem interval

Postmortem interval

Post mortem interval (PMI) is the time that has elapsed since a person has died. If the time in question is not known, a number of medical/scientific techniques are used to determine it.

Many types of changes to a body occur after death. Some of those that can be used to determine the interval are:

* Algor mortis - body cooling;
* Rigor mortis - stiffening of limbs;
* Vitreous humour changes - eye chemistry;
* Entomology - insect activity on the corpse;
* State of decomposition (autolysis and putrefaction).


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