As soon as a person dies, their body usually begins to decompose immediately, although good embalming can delay this process.
Immediately after death, the human body begins to decompose, as cells die and bacteria multiply in the body. But how long does it take for the human body to decompose completely? This question was answered by the publication Live science scientists.
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According to scientists, the process of decomposition of the body begins a few minutes after the death of a person. Oxygenated blood stops flowing and this leads to the gradual death of body cells.
At the same time, a rapid multiplication of bacteria begins in the abdominal cavity of the deceased, as a result of which gases are released, the abdominal cavity swells and an unpleasant odor appears. If the body is in a very hot room, the decomposition process is accelerated, so the corpses are placed in special refrigerators in the morgue. They are kept there until the funeral.
Although the decomposition process begins within minutes of death, both the ambient temperature and the soil in which the body is buried, as well as the material of the coffin, affect the decomposition process and its duration.
According to Daniel Westcott of the University of Texas, USA, if the body was buried in an ordinary coffin, the transformation of the corpse into a skeleton begins within a year after burial. For the body to completely decompose, that is, all soft tissues disappear, about 10 years must pass.
Photo: Daily Mail
On the other hand, if the body was not buried properly, the decomposition process is greatly accelerated by microbes, as well as insects, which eat all the soft tissue. And within a few days all organs and tissues will no longer have their original appearance. In the future, in just a few years, such a body can turn into a skeleton. But it all depends on the environmental conditions. According to Nicholas Passalaqua of Western Carolina University, it can take up to 5 years for such a body to fully decompose.
According to Westcott, the decomposition process can slow down embalming when special fluids are injected into the body instead of blood. These chemicals act as preservatives and prevent bacterial activity from destroying the body.
As for the usual burial of the body, according to scientists, the acidity of the soil in which the coffin is placed can also affect the rate of decomposition. If the soil has high acidity, the coffin will collapse faster, which means microbes and insects will speed up the decomposition process.
It turns out that the rate of decomposition, which can slow down, is affected by the chemotherapy and antibiotics the deceased person took before their death.
According to Westcott, the coffin’s lining also affects how quickly the body decomposes. Some materials absorb fluid from the body, which can cause it to dry out and even mummify faster. If the material retains moisture, the body can be impregnated with its own fluids and decompose faster.
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