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Timeline of postmortem changes (stages of death), with skeletonization near right side. In a temperate climate, it usually requires three weeks to several years for a body to completely decompose into a skeleton, depending on factors such as temperature, humidity, presence of insects, and submergence in a substrate such as water. [3]
Body size is an important factor that will also influence the rate of decomposition. [22] A larger body mass and more fat will decompose more rapidly. [22] This is because after death, fats will liquify, accounting for a large portion of decomposition. [22] People with a lower fat percentage will decompose more slowly. [22]
The human body is composed of approximately: 64% water, 20% protein, 10% fat, 1% carbohydrate, 5% minerals. [1] The decomposition of soft tissue is characterized by the breakdown of these macromolecules , and thus a large proportion of the decomposition products should reflect the amount of protein and fat content initially present in the body ...
In thermodynamic terms, all organic tissues are composed of chemical energy, which, when not maintained by the 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.
In today's parlance, "burial at sea" may also refer to the scattering of ashes in the ocean, while "whole body burial at sea" refers to the entire uncremated body being placed in the ocean at great depths. [9] Laws vary by jurisdictions. The concept may also include ship burial, a form of burial at sea in which the corpse is set adrift on a boat.
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A dead body that has been exposed to the open elements, such as water and air, will decompose more quickly and attract much more insect activity than a body that is buried [21] or confined in special protective gear or artifacts. [22]
In other words, your body burns a lot of calories to keep muscle around, so if you’re not actively using it, your body will let it go to conserve energy for more essential functions.