When do internal organs begin to decompose once ALL life functions cease to function?

Question

My view is that organs start decomposing as soon as heart and brain functions cease.

Answer 1

You are correct. Decomposition begins immediately after death. Once a person dies, cellular death also occurs and decomposition begins. Decomposition may be slowed by embalming, but is inevitable.

Answer 2

Actually you're right. The first actual organ that "dies" is the brain. Irreversable brain damage occurs in 6 to 10 minutes after no oxygenation. The next thing to start actually decomposing are the villi in the intestines. As I was taught, anything that is highly vascular (meaning has a large blood supply) will die and start decomposing. By the way, when the brain decomposes......it looks like chicken soup. Yuk........best of luck to you.

Answer 3

* One hour after death; the muscles relax totally.
* Three hours after death; rigor mortis sets in.
* One day after death; the body has fully returned to room temperature.
* One day-on after death: the skin shrinks and contracts giving the appearance that the hair and nails have grown.
* Within one to two days of death; if flies are around, they will begin laying eggs which will hatch into maggots in available areas of the body.
* After two days from death; rigor mortis relaxes.
* After two days-on from death; the internal tissue begins the process of decay; starting to turn into gasses and liquids.
* Within one week of death; the flesh has become liquid-like under the skin.
* Within two weeks of death; the stomach distends due to accumulation of gasses and this can lead to the discharge of a dark, bloody liquid from the nose and mouth of the corpse.
* After three to four weeks of death; the body is extremely decayed, hair and nails can be easily pulled out; the trunk has swollen to twice its size; while the face has gone a purple green and the tongue protrudes.
* After five to six weeks of death; the body has become soup-like.
* If a body is buried in the ground; after a time of ten years all the tissue has turned to liquid and gas and been absorbed by the surrounding soil leaving only the bones.

Answer 4

http://www.deathonline.net/decomposition/