Ewww...Forensic Anthropology Midterm Term Review

Autolysis: the degeneration of body tissues by the digestive fluids normally residing in the intestinal tract. Because their action is no longer controlled by the living organism, the juices digest the body just as if it were food, causing a general destruction of internal organs.
The activity of botanical life is often enhanced by autolysis. Since this process dissolves biotic material, the released substances can act as a fertilizer, causing faster and more aggressive growth.
Adipocere: A brown, fatty, waxlike substance that forms on dead animal tissues in response to moisture.
Marbling: the thinning of the skin during decomposition which allows for the visibility of underlying structures, such as veins, arteries, muscles, fat deposits, and bones.
Purging: the expulsion of the tongue from the mouth and the leaking of bodily fluids from the nose and mouth that occurs during decomposition.
Skin Slippage: the stage of decomposition where the scalp's hair mat falls off of the body, as well as the outer layer of skin.
Saponification: the decomposition of fatty tissue that occurs in bodies found in water or in moist conditions. This process creates adipose, or adiposy, or adipocere.