Which term best describes pooling of blood in a corpse as part of lividity?

Which term best describes pooling of blood in a corpse as part of lividity?

• A. Pooling of the Blood
• B. Dehydration Of Tissues
• C. Rigor Mortis
• D. Decomposition

Answer: (A)

Lividity is the settling of blood in the lowest parts of the body after the heart stops, causing a purplish discoloration where gravity has pooled the blood. The term that best describes this pooling of blood is literally pooling of the blood, since it captures the visible buildup of blood in dependent areas as part of lividity. This is different from dehydration of tissues, which refers to drying; rigor mortis, which is the stiffening of muscles after death; and decomposition, which is the breakdown of tissues by bacteria. The pooling helps investigators assess time since death and whether the body was moved after death.

Lividity is the settling of blood in the lowest parts of the body after the heart stops, causing a purplish discoloration where gravity has pooled the blood. The term that best describes this pooling of blood is literally pooling of the blood, since it captures the visible buildup of blood in dependent areas as part of lividity. This is different from dehydration of tissues, which refers to drying; rigor mortis, which is the stiffening of muscles after death; and decomposition, which is the breakdown of tissues by bacteria. The pooling helps investigators assess time since death and whether the body was moved after death.