Cadaverine
Putrefaction is the decomp of animal protein by anaerobic microorganisms (putrefying bacteria), whereas decomposition is a more general process.
During putrefaction one will observe amines such as putrescine and cadaverine. A subject to putrefaction is called “putrescible“
Brief description of putrefaction of a human body with respect to time of death:
2–3 days: Staining begins on the abdomen. The body begins to swell, owing to gas formation.
3–4 days: The staining spreads and veins become discolored.
5–6 days: The abdomen swells with gas (produced by the bacteria that decompose the body), and the skin blisters.
2 weeks: The abdomen becomes very tight and swollen.
3 weeks: Tissues begin to soften. Organs and cavities are bursting. The nails fall off.
4 weeks: Soft tissues begin to liquefy, and the face becomes unrecognizable.
The exact rate of putrefaction is dependent upon many factors, such as weather, exposure and location.
Related Articles
- Why is aeration important for decomposition? (greenanswers.com)
- why do some leaves decompose faster than others? (greenanswers.com)
- Maggot, By Paul Muldoon (independent.co.uk)
- Fruits and Vegetables Decomposition (waazaap.com)
- Delay the Decay: How Zombie Biology Would Work | Science Not Fiction (blogs.discovermagazine.com)
