I 23(f) have lost two close friends in horrific circumstances over the last few years. Can anyone explain to me why bodies,
particularly faces, looks so different after death – is it because they’ve been embalmed, or is it the human brain not being able to process what they’re seeing infront of them? Apologies if this is too gruesome for this sub, i think this might be me grieving and just trying to find some way to understand why.
In: Biology
1. Many muscles in our bodies have constant tension in them whether we are aware of it or not. When we die, all of that tension is gone, so the face shape is different.
2. Every structure in our bodies down to the smallest cell is part of a complex circulatory system. Various body fluids are constantly moving around. When we die, it doesn’t take long for all of that fluid to stop circulating and gravity pulls much of it toward the lowest part of the body. (For example, if you’re laying on your back, it will be pulled away from the front side of your body and pool in your back.) This process make our faces lose the pink tones and turn white or shadws of blue. It also affects the shape of our faces because they’ve lost volume.
These are just my main observations, and I know there are other things going on, including temperature, chemical, and moisture changes. It’s a very hard thing to witness, especially for the first time and/or when it’s a loved one. Try to remember them the way they looked when they were alive.
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