Editing Putrefaction (section)

==Description==
In [[thermodynamics|thermodynamic]] terms, all organic tissues are composed of chemical energy, which, when not maintained by the [[Homeostasis|constant biochemical maintenance]] of the living organism, begin to chemically break down due to the reaction with water into [[amino acids]], known as [[hydrolysis]]. The breakdown of the proteins of a decomposing body is a [[spontaneous process]]. [[Protein hydrolysis]] is accelerated as the [[Anaerobic organism|anaerobic bacteria]] of the [[Human gastrointestinal tract|digestive tract]] consume, digest, and excrete the cellular proteins of the body.

[[File:Rogers body.jpg|thumb|Putrefaction in human hands after several days of one of the [[Oba Chandler]] victims underwater in Florida, United States]]

The bacterial digestion of the cellular proteins weakens the tissues of the body. As the proteins are continuously broken down to smaller components, the bacteria excrete gases and [[organic compound]]s, such as the [[functional group|functional-group]] [[amine]]s [[putrescine]] (from [[ornithine]]) and [[cadaverine]] (from [[lysine]]), which carry the noxious odor of rotten flesh. Initially, the gases of putrefaction are constrained within the body cavities, but eventually diffuse through the adjacent tissues, and then into the [[circulatory system]]. Once in the blood vessels, the putrid gases infiltrate and diffuse to other parts of the body and the limbs.

The visual result of gaseous tissue-infiltration is notable bloating of the torso and limbs. The increased internal pressure of the continually rising volume of gas further stresses, weakens, and separates the tissues constraining the gas. In the course of putrefaction, the skin tissues of the body eventually rupture and release the bacterial gas. As the anaerobic bacteria continue consuming, digesting, and excreting the tissue proteins, the body's decomposition progresses to the stage of [[skeletonisation|skeletonization]]. This continued consumption also results in the production of [[ethanol]] by the bacteria, which can make it difficult to determine the [[blood alcohol content]] (BAC) in autopsies, particularly in bodies recovered from water.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kugelberg |first1=Fredrik C. |last2=Jones |first2=Alan Wayne |date=5 January 2007 |title=Interpreting results of ethanol analysis in postmortem specimens: A review of the literature |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0379073806002891 |journal=[[Forensic Science International]] |volume=165 |issue=1 |pages=10–27 |doi=10.1016/j.forsciint.2006.05.004 |pmid=16782292 |access-date=20 May 2020|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Generally, the term ''decomposition'' encompasses the biochemical processes that occur from the physical death of the person (or animal) until the skeletonization of the body. Putrefaction is one of seven stages of [[decomposition]]; as such, the term ''putrescible'' identifies all organic matter (animal and human) that is [[Biochemistry|biochemically]] subject to putrefaction. In the matter of death by poisoning, the putrefaction of the body is chemically delayed by poisons such as [[antimony]], [[arsenic]], [[carbolic acid]] (phenol), ''[[Strychnos nux-vomica|nux vomica]]'' (plant), [[strychnine]] (pesticide), and [[zinc chloride]].