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How do bacteria contribute to decomposition after death?
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embalming
An embalming surgeon at work on a soldier's body during the American Civil War.
While the body is alive, the immune system keeps bacteria largely confined to the gut. After death, these bacteria are no longer restricted and begin to feed on the body, initiating a stage of decomposition known as putrefaction.1
The process typically follows these steps:
- Initial Digestion: Bacteria first digest the intestines and surrounding tissues.1
- Systemic Spread: They expand their reach by entering the capillaries, eventually spreading to major organs such as the heart, brain, liver, and spleen.1
- Breakdown of Compounds: Bacteria break down complex organic compounds, including proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.12
- Gas Production: This metabolic activity produces gases that cause the abdomen to swell and eventually rupture the skin.1
This continuous process of microbial decomposition eventually reduces the body to a skeleton, converting organic materials into simpler substances and gases. To delay this natural process, embalming practices are used to preserve the body by draining fluids and injecting chemical solutions, such as formaldehyde, to inhibit bacterial activity.12