The gradual decrease in body's temperature after death is called?

Appeared in: AIIMS Patna NO - 2020

Explanation

Algor mortis is the correct medical term for the postmortem cooling of the body.
The term is derived from Latin, where 'algor' means coldness and 'mortis' means 'of death'.
This cooling occurs because after death, the body's metabolic processes stop, and circulation ceases, so it can no longer generate heat.
The body temperature then gradually equilibrates with the surrounding environmental temperature, typically falling at a rate of about 1°C per hour.

Option A: 'Stiff mortis' is not a recognized medical or forensic term. It is a distractor that incorrectly combines the word 'stiff' with 'mortis'.
Option C: Rigor mortis refers to the stiffening of the body's muscles after death, not the change in temperature. It is caused by a lack of ATP, which prevents muscles from relaxing.
Option D: Livor mortis, or postmortem lividity, is the process where blood settles in the lower (dependent) parts of the body due to gravity, causing a purplish-red discoloration of the skin.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Postmortem physiological changes as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses are often the first to provide postmortem care. Correctly identifying and documenting these physiological changes is a key part of their responsibility.
Accurate observation of algor, livor, and rigor mortis is essential for legal and forensic purposes, especially in cases of unexpected death, as it helps in estimating the time of death.
A nurse's documentation provides a baseline for the medical examiner or forensic team.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key concept in the question stem, which is the 'gradual decrease in body's temperature after death'.
This is a factual recall question that tests knowledge of forensic/medical terminology.
Analyze the options, which are Latin-derived terms. Try to recall the meaning of the root words.
Focus on the keyword 'temperature'. 'Algor' is the Latin root for 'cold' or 'coldness'. This makes 'Algor mortis' the most likely candidate.
Eliminate the other options based on their meanings: 'Rigor' refers to stiffness, and 'Livor' refers to a bluish color or bruising. 'Stiff mortis' is not a standard medical term.
Confirm your choice. Algor mortis correctly describes the cooling of the body after death.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nursing Fundamentals Taylor pp. 946-948, 951-953

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