Algor mortis (body cooling) proceeds at an average rate of approximately how many degrees Fahrenheit per hour in a temperate environment?

Explanation

## Algor Mortis: Rate and Mechanism **Key Point:** The body cools at approximately 1.0–1.5°F (0.5–0.8°C) per hour in a temperate environment, though this rate is highly variable. ### Factors Affecting Cooling Rate | Factor | Effect on Cooling | |--------|-------------------| | **Environmental temperature** | Cold environment → faster cooling; warm environment → slower cooling | | **Body composition** | Obese individuals cool slower (insulation); lean individuals cool faster | | **Clothing/covering** | Insulation slows cooling | | **Humidity** | High humidity slows evaporative cooling | | **Air circulation** | Wind/ventilation accelerates cooling | | **Cause of death** | Fever/sepsis → initial higher body temp; hypothermia → faster cooling | **High-Yield:** Henssge nomogram and other mathematical models account for these variables to estimate PMI more accurately than simple linear cooling assumptions. **Clinical Pearl:** The initial cooling rate may be faster in the first 2–3 hours ("temperature plateau"), then slows as the body approaches ambient temperature. **Mnemonic:** **CHEAT** — Clothing, Humidity, Environment, Age/Adiposity, Temperature of surroundings — all affect algor mortis rate. **Warning:** Do NOT assume a fixed 1–1.5°F/hour rate in all cases — this is only the *average* in temperate conditions. Actual PMI estimation requires accounting for all variables listed above.