Post-mortem staining is primarily caused by what process?

• A. Hemolysis
• B. Decomposition
• C. Microbial activity
• D. Putrefaction

Answer: (A)

Post-mortem staining, also known as livor mortis, occurs primarily due to the process of hemolysis. After death, the heart stops pumping blood, causing it to settle under the influence of gravity. This settling becomes evident as purplish or reddish discoloration of the skin in areas where blood pools. Hemolysis refers to the breakdown of red blood cells, which releases hemoglobin into the surrounding tissues, contributing to the coloration that characterizes post-mortem staining.

While decomposition, microbial activity, and putrefaction all play roles in the post-mortem changes of the body, they are not the primary processes responsible for the initial discoloration seen with post-mortem staining. Decomposition is a broader term that covers the entire breakdown of the body, microbial activity refers specifically to the actions of microorganisms on the body, and putrefaction is the decay that is primarily driven by bacteria, which occurs over a longer time after death. Hemolysis specifically pertains to the changes in blood that lead to the staining observed shortly after death.