What are the physiological signs and symptoms of death?
Stiffening of body (rigor mortis), developing 2 to 4 hours after death (involves contraction of skeletal and smooth muscle from lack of adenosine triphosphate). b) Reduction in body temperature with loss of skin elasticity (algor mortis). c) Purple discoloration of skin (livor mortis) in dependent areas from breakdown of red blood cells. d) Softening and liquefying of body tissues by bacterial fermentation. 12) What are the perceptions of death according to the stages of development? Infant: cries for death of mother or significant other. Toddler: think that death is reversible. School age (9-10): Understand that death in permanent. Adolescent: They do not believe that death can happen to them. They believe they are invincible. Adult: are confronted with the death of family members and friends of the same age. 13) What does the coroner do? Death is to be reported and investigated by the coroner when there are reasonable grounds to believe that the person died as a result of violence, h
