ASIS International (ASIS) Professional Certified Investigator Practice Exam

What is putrefaction?

1. Stiffening of the body

2. Initial loss of body heat

3. Decay of the body

4. Settling of blood post-mortem

The correct answer is: Decay of the body

Putrefaction refers to the biochemical breakdown of body tissues following death, primarily due to the action of bacteria and enzymes. During this process, the body undergoes various changes, including discoloration and the production of gases and foul odors as the tissues decompose. This extensive decay is a natural part of the post-mortem process and is critical in forensic science for determining the time and circumstances surrounding death. The other options, while related to post-mortem changes, describe different phenomena. Stiffening of the body is known as rigor mortis, which occurs later after death. The initial loss of body heat pertains to algor mortis, which is the cooling of the body after death. Lastly, settling of blood post-mortem, known as livor mortis, refers to the pooling of blood in the lowest parts of the body due to gravity. Understanding all these processes is essential for a comprehensive grasp of post-mortem changes, but putrefaction specifically emphasizes the decay aspect of decomposition.