![]() ![]() As these microbes work away, gases begin to accumulate in the intestines, and the surrounding tissues expand. Meanwhile, resident anaerobic bacteria in the gut begin to break down cells, beginning the second phase of decomposition: bloat. Fluid-filled blisters emerge on the skin, which slips easily off the body in large sheets. It's characterized by cell autolysis, "or self-digestion": The cells burst open due to the work of enzymes, and fluids leak out. That can begin within 10 minutes of death. One of the first visible signs of death is when the eyes cloud over, a result of fluids and oxygen no longer flowing to the corneas. Organs with high concentrations of enzymes and water, such as the liver and the brain, are ground zero for this process. ![]() Then, enzymes within cells begin to eat away at them. It takes approximately four minutes from the moment a person has breathed their last for the shortage of oxygen in their body to kick off a series of events happening at the microscopic level: The levels of carbon dioxide and acidity rise in the bloodstream, and toxic wastes build up, poisoning the cells. DECOMPOSITION STARTS ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER DEATH. (No, hair and nails don't grow after death, and corpses never sit up on mortuary tables.) Here are nine fascinating facts that demystify how we transition from flesh to bone to dust. We're both fascinated and repelled by decomposition, which has given rise to many myths and urban legends. From rotting corpses crawling with maggots to oozing bodies emitting stomach-churning stenches, the decaying human body is the stuff of nightmares, horror movies, and crime dramas. ![]()
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