Ask a Teacher
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE BLOOD OF A DEAD PERSON? |
A living person's heart pumps oxygen-rich blood through the entire body in an extensive network of veins, arteries and capillaries. Blood gives organs and muscles the nutrients and warmth they need to work properly. livor mortis, a phenomenon involving the shift of blood in the body.Since the blood is no longer being pumped through the body it will drain from the blood vessels at the top of the body and collect in the blood vessels on the lower part of the body. The upper part of the body will become pale and the lower part of the body will become dark. If the person is lying on their back, the front of their body and face will be very pale or even grey while their back will be much darker and look almost like it is bruised. This is called lividity or liver mortis and is one of the first things that a scientist will look at to try to determine when someone died and if they were moved after death. |