|
|
Article: Decomposition
- Article from:
- World of Forensic Science
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Thomson Gale. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Decomposition
The biological and chemical changes undergone by a body after death are known as decomposition. Decomposition is the continual process of gradual decay and disorganization of organic tissues and structures after death. Some tissues, such as bones, teeth, and hair, are more resistant to the action of microorganisms and other environmental factors and may last for centuries. Fossilized bones from animals and hominids, extinct millions of years ago, are
studied today by paleontologists and anthropologists, thanks to such resilience.
Forensic
medicine
and forensic
anthropology
investigate the sequence and types of changes that affect decomposing bodies under different ...