Transcript Stages of Decomposition

Stages of
Decomposition
Images from
http://www.deathonline.net/decomposition/index.htm
Updated Sept. 2005
Created by C. Ippolito
September, 2005
Stage 1- Living Organism
• Intestines of living human contains:
– Protozoans
– Bacteria
– Nematodes
• With death these organisms begin to grow
without the controls that kept their
numbers limited during life.
Updated Sept. 2005
Created by C. Ippolito
September, 2005
Stage 2 – Initial Decay
• 0 to 3 days
– Bacteria begin to digest
intestines
– Once out of intestine
digest internal organs
– Digestive enzymes
released
– Blowflies and house flies
lay eggs around wounds
and orifices
Updated Sept. 2005
Created by C. Ippolito
September, 2005
Stage 3 - Putrification
• 4 to 10 days
– Anaerobic bacteria digest
cells releasing fluids and
gases
•
•
•
•
Hydrogen sulfide
Methane
Cadaverine
Putrisine
– Gases inflate body and
attract insects
– Maggots move through body
Updated Sept. 2005
Created by C. Ippolito
September, 2005
Stage 4 – Black Putrification
• 10 to 20 days
– Skin bursts body
collapses
– Flesh creamy, air
exposed flesh
blackens
– Maggots leave
body to pupate
– Beetles and wasps
increase
Updated Sept. 2005
Created by C. Ippolito
September, 2005
Stage 5 – Butyric Fermentation
• 20 to 50 days after
death
– Most of flesh gone
– Cheesy odor due to
butyric acid
– Beetle larvae replace
flies
Updated Sept. 2005
Created by C. Ippolito
September, 2005
Stage 6 – Dry Decay
• 50 -365 days
– Dry body slow
decay
– Hair decays leaving
only bones
– Moths feed on hair
Updated Sept. 2005
Created by C. Ippolito
September, 2005