Rectal temperature recorded one hour after death in an otherwise healthy adult is found to be slightly higher than the expected normal core temperature. Which phenomenon explains this early postmortem rise?

• A Autolysis of brown fat releasing stored energy
• B Algor mortis commencing from a febrile baseline
• C Rigor mortis generating heat in large muscle groups
• D Postmortem caloricity due to continued bacterial and enzymatic activity ✓

Explanation

Postmortem caloricity is a transient rise in body temperature shortly after death, seen especially in deaths involving infection, intense muscular exertion, or heat stroke, caused by ongoing bacterial multiplication and enzymatic activity before cooling dominates. Rigor mortis is a chemical change without significant heat output, and algor mortis describes cooling, not warming.

Reference: The Essentials of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, K S Narayan Reddy, 34th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.