ASIS International (ASIS) Professional Certified Investigator Practice Exam

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Which statement accurately describes livor mortis?

It indicates the onset of decomposition.
It is the stiffening of the body after death.
It involves the pooling of blood causing skin discoloration.
It refers to the cooling of the body.

The correct answer is: It involves the pooling of blood causing skin discoloration.

The statement that accurately describes livor mortis is that it involves the pooling of blood causing skin discoloration. Livor mortis, also known as hypostasis, occurs after death as the blood settles in the lowest parts of the body due to gravity. This settling of blood leads to a purplish-red discoloration of the skin in those areas where the blood has pooled. This phenomenon can help forensic investigators estimate the time of death and determine the position of the body after death. Understanding this helps distinguish livor mortis from other post-mortem changes, such as rigor mortis, which refers to the stiffening of the muscles, or algor mortis, which describes the cooling of the body. Additionally, livor mortis is related to the physical state of the blood rather than the chemical breakdown of body tissues, which marks the onset of decomposition. Therefore, the recognition of livor mortis is crucial for professionals in forensic investigations and understanding the timeline of events surrounding a death.