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Question 5 (1 point)

Which would indicate that a corpse had been dead between 2 and 8 hours?
Question 5 options:

white marks on purple skin when pressed

body temperature of 97°F (36.1°C) when the ambient temperature is 70°F (21.1°C)

a fixed purple color on the lowest parts of the body

fully stiff muscles over the entire body

1 answer

To determine the time since death, the following indicators can help:

  1. White marks on purple skin when pressed: This is indicative of livor mortis, which begins to develop shortly after death.

  2. Body temperature of 97°F (36.1°C) when the ambient temperature is 70°F (21.1°C): This suggests the body has cooled down, but it may not provide a definitive timeframe as cooling can vary.

  3. A fixed purple color on the lowest parts of the body: This indicates livor mortis has fully developed, which can occur several hours after death.

  4. Fully stiff muscles over the entire body: This indicates rigor mortis, which typically sets in around 2-6 hours after death, depending on conditions.

Considering these options, the body temperature of 97°F (36.1°C) in a 70°F (21.1°C) environment would most likely indicate that a corpse had been dead between 2 and 8 hours. Rigor mortis is also a strong indicator but is generally fully set between 6-12 hours. Therefore, the most appropriate answer in the given choices is the body temperature.