What happens to a dead body after 3 days

Human decomposition happens naturally. Decomposition is the breakdown of tissues after death. However, decomposition happens depending on the weather, temperature, pH, moisture and oxygen level. This also involves the cause of death and body position. Human decomposition has the same stages which are four in number.

Stages of human decomposition

According to studies, human decomposition begins to take place four minutes after death and involves four stages which are autolysis, bloat, active decay, and skeletonization. These stages have a set amount of time before the next stage begins.

Stage One: Autolysis

The first stage happens as soon as the person dies. The lack of blood circulation and respiration causes the body to self-digest in a process called autolysis. Autolysis happens as there is a lack of oxygen in the body and its inability to remove waste. The body is affected by excess carbon dioxide, which results in an acidic environment, causing the splitting of the cell membranes. The enzymes released by their membranes start to digest the cells from the inside out.

Rigorous muscle tissue is thinned by rigor mortis, which causes small blisters. These blisters are rich in the nutrient fluid which begins to show in the internal organs and face of the skin. The blisters will cause the skin to look polished while the top layer will begin to peel off.

Stage Two: Bloating

Many gases are formed from the first stage by leaked enzymes. The result is skin discoloration, which is caused by the sulfur gas, which is a composite of bacteria. These gases will increase the mass of the dead body, inviting many insect activities.

Putrefaction is caused by microorganisms and bacteria, which emit an unpleasant odor.This odor can have a long-lasting effect on the scene and is used to predict where a person died.

The microorganisms and bacteria produce extremely unpleasant odors called putrefaction. These odors often alert others that a person has died, and can linger long after a body has been removed.

Stage Three: Active Decay

Active decay begins to occur as the orifices begin to discharge fluids. The process melts the organs, skin and muscles. This stage causes the body to reduce in size as the body’s soft tissue begins to decompose, leaving the hair, bones, cartilage, and other by-products of decay.

Stage Four: Skeletonization

Skeletonization has no certain occurring time as its occurrence depends on the decomposition rate of the body. This decomposition is based on the loss of organic and inorganic components of the body.

Body decay time frame

24-72 hours after death — the internal organs begin to decay.
3-5 days after death — the body starts to swell and the mouth and nose begins to discharge blood containing foam.
8-10 days after death — the body changes from green to red as a result of blood decays and the organs in the abdomen begin to hold gas.
Several weeks after death — nails and teeth fall out.
1 month after death — the body starts to liquefy.