Algor Mortis is defined as what?

• A. Cooling of the body that follows death
• B. Autolysis
• C. Rigor mortis
• D. Decomposition

Answer: (A)

Algor mortis describes the cooling of the body after death as heat is lost to the surrounding environment. This temperature drop starts soon after death and continues until the body comes to ambient temperature. The rate of cooling depends on factors like ambient temperature, clothing, body size, air flow, and whether the person was febrile before death. Because these factors vary, algor mortis is used cautiously as part of estimating time since death rather than as a standalone measure. It differs from autolysis (enzymatic breakdown inside cells after death), rigor mortis (muscle stiffening due to biochemical changes), and decomposition (bacterial-driven breakdown of tissues).