شحوب الموت

الخط الزمني لتغيرات ما بعد الموت (مراحل الموت)، ويظهر شحوب الموت قرب الجانب الأيسر.

شحوب الموت (Pallor mortis ؛ من Latin pallor، وتعني "شحوب", و mortis، وتعني "الموت") هو أول مراحل الموت ويبدأ حين تتحول البشرة للشحوب. It is most apparent in individuals with fair skin. An opto-electronical colour measurement device is used to measure pallor mortis on bodies.

 التوقيت وإمكانية التطبيق

Pallor mortis occurs almost immediately, generally within 15–25 minutes, after death. Paleness develops so rapidly after death that it has little to no use in determining the time of death, aside from saying that it either happened less than 30 minutes ago or more, which could help if the body were found very soon after death.

 السبب

Pallor mortis results from the collapse of capillary circulation throughout the body. Gravity then causes the blood to sink down into the lower parts of the body, creating livor mortis.

 الشحوب المشابه في الأشخاص الأحياء

A living person can look deathly pale, with such paleness often likened to death in figurative speech and in fiction. This can happen when blood escapes from the surface of the skin, in a matter of deep shock. Also heart failure (insufficientia cordis) can make the face appear pale; the person then might have blue lips. Skin can also become pale as a result of vasoconstriction as part of the body's homeostatic systems in cold conditions, or if the skin is deficient in vitamin D, as seen in people who spend most of the time indoors, away from sunlight.