Approximately 24 hours after death, which change is observed regarding body temperature?

• A. Body temperature equals the environment
• B. Rigor mortis is complete
• C. Livor mortis is no longer present
• D. Skin color matches living person

Answer: (A)

After death the body stops producing heat, but it keeps losing heat to the surroundings. This cooling toward the environment is called algor mortis, and by about a day after death the body’s temperature has largely equilibrated with the ambient temperature. So at roughly 24 hours, the body temperature is equal to the environment. The other changes occur earlier or relate to different processes (rigor mortis appearing within hours and fading later, livor mortis developing and fixing within the first half-day, and skin color changes not reflecting living warmth), but they don’t describe the temperature state at that time.