What does the colors of lividity mean?

Lividity, also known as postmortem hypostasis, refers to the settling of blood in the lowermost parts of the body due to gravity after death. The color changes associated with lividity can provide information about the time since death and other relevant circumstances. Here are the meanings of different colors observed in lividity:

1. Dependent Lividity (Cherry Red):

- Color: Dark reddish-purple or cherry red

- Significance: Indicates early lividity, typically seen within the first 30 minutes to 8 hours after death. The blood accumulates in dependent areas such as the back, buttocks, and the back of the limbs.

2. Transient Lividity (Bluish-Red):

- Color: Bluish-red or purple

- Significance: Transiently appears as the hemoglobin in the settled blood undergoes chemical changes. It represents an intermediate stage and gradually transitions into cadaveric lividity.

3. Cadaveric Lividity (Purplish-Black):

- Color: Purplish-black or blue-black

- Significance: This is the final stage of lividity that usually becomes fixed and permanent after 8-12 hours postmortem. The color deepens as tissue decomposition sets in.

4. Fixed Lividity (Dark Purple or Black):

- Color: Dark purple or black

- Significance: Fixed lividity occurs when the blood vessels break down, and blood seeps into the surrounding tissues. This stage generally indicates that death occurred more than 12 hours earlier.

5. Hypostasis Lividity (Pale or Whitish):

- Color: Pale, light pink, or whitish

- Significance: Indicates pressure-induced pallor or blanching of lividity due to compression or obstruction, often seen where the body was in contact with a surface or tight clothing.

6. Livor Mortis in Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (Cherry-Red):

- Color: Bright cherry-red

- Significance: In cases of carbon monoxide poisoning, the lividity remains cherry-red due to the formation of carboxyhemoglobin, which has a higher affinity for oxygen than hemoglobin.

It's important to note that while lividity colors can provide valuable information, they should be interpreted in conjunction with other forensic evidence and factors such as environmental conditions, the cause of death, and the individual's health history. A thorough investigation and the expertise of forensic pathologists are essential in determining the precise time since death and the significance of lividity observations.