What phenomenon occurs due to the pooling of blood after death?

The pooling of blood after death leads to a phenomenon known as liver mortis, also referred to as postmortem hypostasis. This occurs due to the force of gravity acting on the blood, which begins to settle in the lower parts of the body, resulting in a purplish discoloration of the skin in those areas. This process can begin within minutes to a couple of hours after death and may become more pronounced over time.

Liver mortis is crucial in forensic science because it can provide information about the time of death and the position of the body at the time of death. Once this process sets in, it is a strong indicator that the individual has passed away. Recognizing liver mortis can assist forensic investigators in establishing timelines during their examinations.

The other phenomena, while related to the postmortem process, do not specifically relate to blood pooling. Rigor mortis involves the stiffening of muscles post-death, decomposition refers to the biological breakdown of the body over time, and coding is not a term related to postmortem changes. Understanding liver mortis helps build a comprehensive picture of the events following death.