What is the term for the cooling of the body after death?

The term for the cooling of the body after death is known as algor mortis. This physiological process begins shortly after death and is characterized by the body losing heat to the environment. Typically, the body's temperature decreases at a specific rate, approximately 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit per hour, until it reaches the ambient temperature.

Understanding algor mortis is crucial in the field of forensic science because it can help medical death investigators estimate the time of death. This estimation is often critical in criminal investigations and can provide valuable insights regarding the circumstances surrounding a person's death.

The other terms listed have specific meanings that pertain to different post-mortem changes. For instance, rigor mortis refers to the stiffening of muscles after death, mummification involves the preservation of the body under dry conditions, and Tardieu spots are associated with post-mortem lividity, specifically indicative of blood pooling. Each of these phenomena has its own implications and relevance in forensic investigations, but algor mortis specifically deals with the temperature changes of the deceased body.