ASIS International (ASIS) Professional Certified Investigator Practice Exam

How does body temperature change post-mortem?

1. Increases steadily

2. Remains constant

3. Drops over time

4. Fluctuates with environment

The correct answer is: Drops over time

After death, the human body experiences a gradual drop in temperature, a process known as algor mortis. This cooling occurs because the metabolic processes that produce heat cease, and the body begins to equilibrate with its surrounding environment. Typically, the body cools at a rate of approximately 1 to 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit per hour, although this can vary based on environmental conditions, clothing, and factors such as the presence of moisture. The other choices indicate different temperature behaviors that do not accurately reflect post-mortem changes. For instance, a steady increase in temperature is not possible since metabolic activity has ceased and the body's heat production effectively stops. A constant temperature would also not occur because the body will naturally cool down over time. Fluctuations with the environment, while temperature changes can be influenced by the environment, do not define the fundamental cooling process that occurs after death, which is a steady decline in body temperature rather than repeated increases and decreases. Thus, the consistent drop in body temperature over time makes this option the most accurate representation of post-mortem changes.