The bluish color of postmortem
discoloration does not have the same connotation as cyanosis produced during
life
- There is a gravitational pooling of blood in the veins
and capillary beds of the dependent parts of the body occur since after
death the body remains lying in a position and cessation of the
circulation. The postmortem coloration helps a doctor to estimate the time
since death.
- The skin of deceased may show dark purple discoloration
due to accumulated blood. The process begins immediately after the
circulation stops, and in a person dying slowly with circulatory failure,
it may be pronounced very shortly after death. Lividity is present in all
bodies, although it may be inconspicuous in some and thus escape notice.
- Postmortem lividity is first apparent about 20–30
minutes after death as dull red patches or blotches, which deepen in
intensity and coalesce over the succeeding hours to form extensive areas.
- Postmortem lividity is usually well marked in the
earlobes and in the fingernail beds. In a supine corpse, there may be
isolated areas of lividity over the front and sides of the neck resulting
from incomplete emptying of superficial veins. If the head is slightly
flexed on the neck, then lividity may have a linear distribution
corresponding to the skin folds.
- Fading of the primary pattern of lividity and
development of a secondary pattern of lividity will be quicker and more
complete if the body is moved.
- Cyanide poisoning results in lividity, which is
described by different authors as pink, bright scarlet, and violet.
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