Skin cells, corneal cells. The cornea of the eye can remain viable for up to 7 days after death under the right conditions.
The brain and nerve cells require a constant supply of oxygen and will die within a few minutes, once you stop breathing. The next to go will be the heart, followed by the liver, then the kidneys and pancreas, which can last for about an hour. Skin, tendons, heart valves and corneas will still be alive after a day.
Stage 3: Putrefaction - 4 to 10 days after death
Bacteria break down tissues and cells, releasing fluids into body cavities. They often respire in the absence of oxygen (anaerobically) and produce various gases including hydrogen sulphide, methane, cadaverine and putrescine as by-products.
“ Some scientists claim that the brain might be active for a short time after someone dies, maybe 7 minutes or more. They're not sure what happens during that time, if it's like a dream, seeing memories, or something else. But if it is memories, then you'd definitely be part of my 7 minutes or hopefully, more.
The first organ system to “close down” is the digestive system. Digestion is a lot of work! In the last few weeks, there is really no need to process food to build new cells.
But there is no certainty as to when or how it will happen. A conscious dying person can know if they are on the verge of dying. Some feel immense pain for hours before dying, while others die in seconds. This awareness of approaching death is most pronounced in people with terminal conditions such as cancer.
Once your brain stops functioning, it is of course impossible to hear things. However, if your heart stops first your brain may still be able to function for a brief period of time before running out of oxygen. During this period you could most likely still hear.
In many traditions, there is a belief that the soul lingers on Earth for 40 days, engaging in a journey of purification, judgment, or preparation for its ultimate destination, which may be reincarnation, heaven, or another form of afterlife.
Putrefaction (4-10 days after death) – Autolysis occurs and gases (odor) and discoloration starts. Black putrefaction (10-20 days after death) – exposed skin turns black, bloating collapses and fluids are released from the body.
First Hour After Death
As muscles relax, sphincters release and allow urine and feces to pass. The expected decrease in body temperature during algor mortis can help forensic scientists get the approximate time of death, assuming the body has not completely cooled or been exposed to extreme environmental temperatures.
Physical signs of dying
Facial muscles may relax and the jaw can drop. Skin can become very pale. Breathing can alternate between loud rasping breaths and quiet breathing. Towards the end, dying people will often only breathe periodically, with an intake of breath followed by no breath for several seconds.
About two hours after death, the cornea becomes hazy or cloudy, turning progressively more opaque over the next day or two. This obstructs the view of the lens and back of the eye. (See A New Look at a Dead Retina, on page 80.) But this clouding may provide a rough estimate in helping to determine time of death.
Gasping respiration is also referred to as agonal respiration and the name is appropriate because the gasping breaths appear uncomfortable and raise concern that the patient is suffering and in agony.
Heaven and Hell
Some believe in the possibility of a heaven on Earth in a world to come. In Hinduism, heaven is termed Svarga loka. There are seven positive regions and seven negative regions to which the soul can go after death.
After death, the pupils enlarge as the body relaxes and loses oxygen. They will also appear fixed and will not be reactive to light.
Christian doctrine describes the soul as the substantial form of a human. Meaning there is a union between our material bodies and an immaterial soul. This union implies that when we die, our soul is no longer in a union with our bodies. Thus, the human soul can be understood to leave the body upon death.
Many people wonder if their departed loved ones visit them after death. Spiritual beliefs vary widely, but many cultures and religions hold that our connections with those who have passed continue in some form. Some believe that after death, loved ones can reach out through dreams, signs, or other subtle ways.
The Ninth Day.
On the ninth day after death, the Orthodox Church offers prayers for the departed both in remembrance of the living [Apost. Const.} and that the departed soul be counted worthy to be numbered among the choir of the saints, through the prayers and intercessions of the nine ranks of angels.
Awareness May Linger
It isn't clear how long a person who is dying retains awareness of what is going on around them, but research suggests that some degree of awareness may remain even after the person slips from consciousness.
9) Do not get agitated around the person.
This can be upsetting to the dying person and add to their distress. Better instead, is to calm yourself down, and bring gift of your quiet presence to your loved one. Remember this is not about doing for the person but rather being with him or her.
He shall never return to his house, nor shall his place know him anymore” (Job 7:9-10, NKJV). Once someone dies, they have no means of communication. They cannot contact the living, either by speaking to them or by reappearing in places and homes they once loved.
When someone dies, their heart stops and they stop breathing. Within a few minutes, their brain stops functioning and their skin starts to cool. At this point, they have died.
Program Description. When a qualified person dies, a spouse may get a one-time Social Security death payment of $255. If there is no spouse, some children may qualify.
Hence, the probability that the wife will be the surviving spouse is 0.63 and, if she is the surviving spouse, her survivor life expectancy is 12.5 years. If the husband is the surviving spouse, his survivor life expectancy is 9.5 years.