1. They digest the food
After the death of a person, the digestive system continues to function, albeit not normally. The process of digestion changes compared to that of a living person. However, yes, the deceased body will process the remaining food in the body.
There are certain bacteria present in the digestive tract that are still active and feed on the organic material still present in the stomach. These bacteria function similarly to those involved in decomposition. Essentially, they consume all the nutrients and convert them into amino acids or other molecules.
This is one of the causes of the unpleasant odor emitted by a corpse. However, it is important to emphasize that the processing of these food remnants by bacteria is based on what the person consumed before they died.
121 Responses
That was interesting an insightful..
Most educational it is as many have wondered what, why and how.
Hi I was reading the same article I saw your name I am Glenn Kelly from Nova Scotia Canada living in manitoba canada
When does a crystallization happen in the mouth?How long in time after chest compression was done?
The explanation about the myth that hair and nails still grow after death. You can almost visualize this appearance of hair and nail growth during decomposition.
This is not correct. Here is why. After Pres. A. Lincoln was assassinated, his body was taken to Springfield, Illinois for burial. At least 2 attempts were made by grave robbers to steal his body and hold it for ransom. In 1926, Robert Todd Lincoln was the only living family member who could identify the body. He did so, after exhumation, and a permanent secure burial memorial was built for Lincoln, his wife and 3 of his 4 sons. In the presence of Robert Todd Lincoln, his father’s body and burial chamber were lowered beneath the floor of the memorial and is encased in several feet of concrete. Life Magazine did a complete story on this and full photo spreads. Although our Martyered Pres. A. Lincoln had been deceased and buried for 61 years, his body was in remarkably good shape. The pillow in his casket had given way to gravity, and the President’s head was in a slightly reclined position without the full support of the pillow in its original state. The only discernible change to the President’s body was that his fingernails, facial hair and hair on his head had appeared to grow. Experienced Funeral Directors were quick to point out that the hair and nails do not grow after death. But, the skin does dry out enough to shrink and give the appearance of growth. Also, Formaldehyde and some other body preservatives were used, but are now illegal, due to the dangers of pollution to the soil and water supplies. There are now available preservatives which are safer and presumably do the same task of preserving a human body after death.
I asked a nurse about that and she said the skin shrinks and makes it look like hair has grown
I thought that this was true. I have heard it all my life.
Being a former medical. I learned about these. But I still find it interesting
This article was very knowledgeable and helpful. We always have wondering minds of death.
I worked for a mortician one summer vacation. I was essentially the muscle that helped move the bodies around. Back then, they didn’t have all the modern hoists and lifts. I worked mostly in the afternoon and nighttime when the viewing times were over. Because of the chemicals, we were never alone, for safety reasons. I witnessed many things that were explained as the body that dies in stages. I heard them moan burp fart and move. movement that was never extreme but like legs that moved and feet and arms as well. Because they were covered, the movements were restricted. The job paid well enough and I thought it could be a good place to learn a trade. Then I had to work on a young lady that I knew from school. While I didn’t know her well we were in several classes together where we talked. She was crushed by a car and needed a lot of work. it bothered me a lot. While I did my job and the best I could, I wasn’t able to work on others. It wasn’t the dead themselves that bothered me. it was very personal to work on a friend even if she wasn’t close. it was an experience of a lifetime. and what I was told was funerals are for the living. —- I, Grampa
Great insight in College.I met a guy who worked in a Funeral Home he kept looking at me. I asked him why he said I looked easy to embalm..I weigh about 105 lbs he just told me about the blood draining
Great explanation very interesting
Grampa, thank you for sharing your story. I can image that was difficult to continue after seeing a person you went to school with, die in such a horrible way. Yes, funerals are for the living, I believe that our Spirit immediately goes to eternity. Some with the Heavenly Father, others not. God bless you!!
You were brave to have “worked” on your fellow classmate after death. I’ve had terrible funeral home experiences b/c of relatives dying. I had nightmares about the whole thing and to this day I HATE going to funeral homes for those deceased. It’s a special type of person who can do this type of work and I commend you for doing it at the time.
Wow! What a story. I don’t know how people can do this occupation. I guess it takes a certain type to be able to do it. Thanks for the interesting story.
Very interesting. I’m sorry you had to experience the loss of your acquaintance. Thanks for sharing.
Wow, I never knew that.
I truly missed my calling. I’ve been to 3 autopsies, with my high school at the county morgue. I was the bus driver and was invited in. My husband was a deputy at the county courthouse, who I had originally planned on meeting, plans changed. I was very interested in trying to figure out what happened, almost like a puzzle. In the end you’re giving a family a little peace if that’s possible. I don’t believe the coroner’s & the investigators that work diligently along side them get enough credit. So, I thank them. They sure answered the question for us when my mother died.
Agree that providing answers is HUGE foe the family.
very interesting, thanks for the facts
That was interesting and informative.
Some of the points, I just didn’t know.
Nice to know article.
As a child growing up in an environment where it wasn’t uncommon to see a dead body. My grandmother was a midwife and used her other gifts to heal people. I remember seeing the hair on head’s that were bald at their expiration time. I also worked in a funeral home where so many bodies had to be laid out. Yes, I have heard and seeing many things and shared with others who that I was so weird or lying. Now, thanks to your article I knew what I saw and heard did happening. Of course, being a child my mother had me put on medications thinking I was mentally unstable. Needless to say I was perfectly normal and still am at 67. Anyway, I am thankful to see this article to read.
I am sorry no one believed you. Something like that could make you doubt your sanity.
1. The stomach still digesting! You would think everything stops.
2. Erection. Didn’t realize the blood flow would accumulate.
3. Fluctuating! I guess air does need to get expelled somehow.
All this was very interesting!
…a stiff having a stiffy…hard…to believe. LOL
Verrry interesting
I don’t see the point in this.
This was very interesting. I’d like to read more on this if you could please send more
How can I read the rest of what the body can do when they die
Very interesting and informative article. Thanks to millions of testimonies from people who “Died” and returned we know now that death is just the moment when we cross over to the other side.
Although, many of us know that, it´s still hard to part with friends and loved ones.
Very interesting article. My daughter is studying mortuary sciencenancy
I don’t think this is accurate…..many times during an investigation, they do autopsies to find out what their last meal was. Even archaeologists when finding a well preserved ancient corpse will investigate their intestines, and stomach to see what king of food they had last.
I wasn’t aware of etections. I’d heard of mostly everything else. I have a lot of interest in mortuary science and follow a young woman who works in the funeral business. Plus we were always in & dead bodies, as we helped clean & set up the chapel for services, etc
Understanding that a dead male may experience an erection, does that mean that if a woman participated in sexual intercourse with the corpse, that she may become impregnated by the corpse?
Fascinating. Because death happens to everyone, we should all be aware of these post death phenomena.
I would like to know more about what the body does after death
I’m a retired R.N. And I would be interested in learning additional facts.
Ya… it’s all in the Bible but then you have man and they do whatever they want.
It can set up. In 1967 when my best friends boy friend was laying in the funeral home I was sitting with her while she was crying when he sit up in the coffin ⚰️ and I about freaked out and then she looked and froze . She thought he had come back to life and here I am running and calling the people from the funeral home to get in there. They came in and played him down. It happened again and again they laid him down.
I have always feared being buried alive and have chosen cremation
I am a ret. Geriatric NP, and I have witnessed many immediate patient deaths in nursing homes as well as personal family deaths. This is the first time I have read about several of the delayed signs of death post mortem. Thank you for enlightening us.
Very interesting
In a way , this article is interesting, having lost my wife almost 7 yrs ago.= ( brain cancer ) And yes I think of her often, wondering what kind of shape she is in now or maybe should be. As until then I hadn’t really thought about the condition of the bodies, people are in after awhile.
Typical luck, spend the last forty years of one’s lifetime taking viagra to get it up! Then when you finally pass, it stands up by its self. Just my luck and definitely something my wife will be laughing about. That might of been to much information. Thanks!
Very interesting. Keep up the good work !!!
I love stories like this. It amazes me some of the things that happen. I would enjoy reading more like this. Do you have any recomendations for some interesting ones.
The male erection bit is a new one to me! After death no more ED!
This is amazing. Thank you for the education on the dead. If I didn’t know these things I would probably think the dead was coming back to life.😃 I would like to study up on the dead. I find it fascinating.
Great information
What about animals? Growing up on a farm I’ve seen many dead dogs, pigs, fowl, even cows and horses etc. Never seen any of them move. Why?
Why can’t I find the article to read. Everytime I hit continue it would take me to an ad that has nothing to do with the article. Things like this is what asked me not even want to read the article.
Very interesting article! I’ve often wondered what happens to a dead body since my Daddy died when I was 7. He was only 35 and had cancer. I’m now 55 and this gives me some insight.
Very Interesting would like to hear more on this 😊
I never had any idea that the body went through all of that after death. Kind of makes you wonder.
You forgot the fact that a corpse can get Goose Bumps when you brush against it.
Inerteresting
Defiantly would like to know the stages of death and what the body does!
Thanks, very educational!
The format for this publication isn’t making it easy to navigate through this sight. Each time I endeavor to engage one of the topics it is impossible to see the answers once you have read the first part of the writing on this site.
Very interesting info. Somethings I knew and most things I didn’t.
so much to look forward to!
Very interesting. I would love to more more.
And what happens to those poor lonely little bacteria that are left in the stomach to finish digesting available food when their job is ultimately complete? Are they left to themselves and begin digesting the body from the inside out? Are they responsible for decay or do they go “where no man has gone before?” Dissapear?
Would like to know also what what happens after the body shuts down.
I didn’t read the article yet. I was with my mom when she died. I stayed with her 4 hours after. Till they told me it was time to take her to the morgue. I saw her whole face change. Her mouth. Eyes she even let air bubbles out of her mouth and I heard her lungs growl. It was like her last goodbyes. So now I will read the article
I’ve experienced when my late husband died, I still seen his eyes twitching after he became cold. I keep telling myself that he is struggling to open his one eye & seen directly that his eye is communicating with me. I’m holding his face & crying so hard that he is not yet died. I visited him in the morgue before the funeral there was no changes in his face & hands. I was not ready to say goodbye & I’m still grieving until now.
After I read this fact findings, it explained of what what I’ve experienced. Thank you for sharing this unusual information to the general public.j
Thank you so much for this article! Very interesting I had never knew the body movements existed after death. You can share more articles on this matter any time.
Thank you
Very interesting & insightful. Remarkable how the body decomposes on its way back to dust…
I am a registered nurse and I know about the fluid retention in a living body, for example like with Kidney Failure, Congestive Heart Failure, Liver Failure, etc., and the diuretics etc. When this person passes, some of the fluid is excreted and some is in the tissues, and with the drainage of the deceased body, you think the body would be thinner, but sometimes the body is more swollen when alive. Why is it more swollen and was there too much embalming fluid put in? My sister passed recently, she had pulmonary fibrosis and was on high dose of steroids. She gained weight towards the end of her life, but her weight looked double during the viewing. I wonder why was she bigger?
As a registered nurse (RN), in a medical facility, I do perform pronouncement on dead body. Pronouncement is declaring that someone actually died after taking vital signs. I remember now doing one pronouncement sometimes last year and after which I left the body for my two aides to perform postmortem care before the body was sent to funeral home. To my surprise, few minutes after my pronouncement, my two aides rushed to my office and told me that the dead person moved. This was unbelievable to me. The only explanation for this, is that there is energy stored in the muscle after dead.
Very knowledgeable article; I found the digestion of food most interesting!
Thanks for an explanation of the way a person’s body after death reacts naturally. Very informative. Cleared up a false belief that hair & nails grow after death.
I was told as a child that after death a persons hair and nails still grew. But I realized years later that it wasn’t , the body shrinks and deteriorates it gives the impression that there is hair and nail growth.
Now, I am totally convinced of my choice of CREAMATION! I don’t have to go through all of this transformation in my body when I leave this foresaked world! These facts were very interesting to be aware of! Very informative of what goes on after we are no longer living. Nevertheless, from (DUST) we came and into (DUST) we shall return! And besides it alot cheeper and can leave more financial support for all your love ones that you leave behind! Then again, this is my body and my believe and and like they say, to each is own! Word!!
Is it possible to fake death?
Life really is a Trip 😅
So it’s only logical that it’s end would be likewise — if only we could all go in our sleep.
This article was indeed veryyyy interesting. . .
Some very interesting stuff, I would have never guessed about the body and life after death, I guess that’s why the Police and the EMT’S face some Scary thing’s that they can’t talk about.
All of these are spot on
I learned quite a bit from this article. Very informative.
How about the heart?
I wrote a whole story about a person communicating via the phone lines after death. I thought it was an idea I made up but a friend pointed me to a documentary where this phenomenon was explained. I can’t remember the documentary’s name. I think there are more things that happen after death than farting.
I was/ w my hubby for several days as he passed. Hardest thing was to see his breathing slow & the decolorationof his face as his heart stopped & the blood seemed to be draining from him. I will never forget that. What is that called. Can u tell
Me more about this phase?
I liked the phenonomen that the body emits sounds after death.
Interesting to know what happens after death.
I am so glad to see that someone had the good sense to educate those that are curious in body functionings after death. Very simply explained and itruthful information in terms and language that anyone can read. Thank you I learn alot.
Really interesting. My mother in law died and was viewed at home, which was an all nighter. Around 12 midnight the corpse rose up into a sitting position. There were screams from people in attendance. Many people got scared and went home. Everyone thought it was some kind of miracle. It was unexplainable at the time. Always hunted me.
Thanks for this information.
Some of the facts explained were unknown to me.
When a person dies do the courinor do Autotopsies to see the results of their death ??
Interesting. I have not had much on the topic discussed but had an experience of seing and talking with a close friend of a relative who walked by my work place a told she was going nearby. But few hours later I heard she was involved in a fatal car accident and died. What scientific explanations can be given to this occurrence?
Interesting. I have not had much on the topic discussed but had an experience of seing and talking with a close friend of a relative who walked by my work place and told me she was going nearby. But few hours later I heard she was involved in a fatal car accident and died. What scientific explanations can be given to this occurrence?
This doesn’t fascinate me at all. All that is expected and matter of fact it’s not even important because at the end of the day, the body will eventually decay. What’s important to know is life after death and where the soul goes after leaving the body.
This was a very informative article. I appreciated how the stages were broken down and explained…more digestible, not just cold, hard facts.
I heard many years ago. There is no such thing as brain dead. Organs are unusable if they are dead. Heard if you donate. They feel it but are paralyzed and can’t cry out. No organs will be taken from me
Great article. Thanks for clearing up the hair and nails myth.
I found it interesting that a corpse could get an erection.
Rigor mortis, very upsetting to me. Very useful article.
For those that get the body prepared for burial, I tip my hat to you. I know it is not an easy occupation, but you guys do a fantastic job and try to put those that have lost people at ease. May God bless you, Danielle.
You left out that the person will often release their digestive fluids out of their mouth right after death. This can be quite disturbing to the family who had their loved one disconnected from life support and spent the last moments with them.
Very interesting!
Very interesting article. Thank you so much.
This is very curocity matter but human being not perfectly get answered that what happened after death.
I read that human soul weight is about 26 gm still I have lot of doubt what is after death.
Thanks and regards
Yeah, I can imagine that would be unsettling. I think I’d be effected by children, especially if the child died by the hands of a monster.I don’t know if I could contain my rage. If the child was murdered in a horrific way, such as rape or mutilation.
We are curious humans always fascinated with death and what happens to the spirit, but never fully exploring what happens to our bodies. This was very informative. Some of the information I was aware of, but very interesting finding out new occurrences that come with our digestive system. The body is a fascinating machine in deed.
Hi
I like to know more about everything what happens to the body after death and buried.
I would like to know if the body is able to “projectile vomit” this happened when my husband died and I thought he was choking after. Is this possible? I was assured he did not “choke to death on the vomit……
Is it true a female can get pregnant having sex on a dead male? I’ve heard they can.
Very Interesting reading. Yes I would be interested in knowing more of how a human body reacts after death has occurred
I would like to know more about the body after death.
I would love to see an autopsy or work with a mortician.
My brother passed a few years back and the whole family was by his side in the hospital. He was always the family clown and chose April 1st to leave us. After he was pronounced dead the nurses and doctor left us have our time with him. And yes, he got the last laugh when he ripped a huge fart at us all. We all in our sorrow started laughing uncontrollably. The looks we got from the staff were “to die for”.
I worked for two large funeral homes for a period of about 5 years. I did several jobs there but helping with embalming was the most interesting. The point about male erections after death… I never witnessed that except during embalming. When the embalming fluid is pumped through arteries and veins, the pressure the fluid is pumped with is sufficient to cause male erections. Didn’t happen every time but enough. The stages of death/decomposition is not something most people want to see/experience. The movements, sounds etc. are not so bad, but the horrible stench of the escaping gasses is unbearable.
the information was very very interestiing – a little scary to but that’s life! when my aunt got her hairdressing license, long time ago, her first assignment was to work on a deceased lady. needless to say, she did not stay in the business very long.
This was very educational I really enjoyed it
This article is misleading. Bacteria in the stomach continue to digest, but not as you might think. The sounds and movements are gases displaced during decomposition. Priapism is a postmortem erection and doesn’t last long. Like all the body’s muscles, they stiffen.
I myself was hired to take ambulance calls at our local Funeral Home. I was sixteen at the time and I knew nothing at the time about what happened. To a body after they died until. I had to go down to the main office to get paper for the job I was doing. Had to walk past a woman lying in her casket. Her hands was folded but when I came back past they was no longer folded. I thought someone was playing tricks on me to scare me. Well when my boss got back in to relieve me . I ask him about it. He laughed at me and then he told me everything. I was at the point of going into that kind of work. Yes I saw many things and hear things that Bill explained to me. He even went as far as teaching me how to embalm. Interesting work. I worked for him for three years until I moved away. My life went in a completely different direction than I had planned. That is one job no one will talk back to you.
Very interesting Tell me more
I would definitely like to know exactly what happens with a body no matter how it passes away just exactly what happens to a body once it’s gone I’ve worked in funeral homes myself I’ve always had a cue rusty about what happens to a body once it’s gone
Without the chemical intervention of embalming fluid, the body dies naturally………decomposition of all organs. The blood, stagnant and a little smelly, remains quiet. In other words, the blood does not “flow”. Many religions do not condone embalming for many reasons. It is best if the body undergoes swift decomposition. Bury or burn the body within three days of confirmed death.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I think everyone should know these things.
I died in 2019 from hitting a deer on a motorcycle doing 60-70 mph at 1130 pm in the middle of nowhere. All this I remember. It’s not a story. Going over a hill, a deer was standing in the road. The bike hit the deer. I flew over the deer, hit the road head first, no helmet. I saw the door to Heaven and was told ‘You are nor worthy to be here yet but I have things for you to do.” From that point on I have no memory. How long did I lay there b4 someone found me? I was told other things by humans since then that i don’t remember. My body may have been laying in a ditch but my soul/spirit was up by God’s door.