TERMS RELATED TO DEATH

1. General terms

death:   exitus, us m. (L.; used in clinical terminology)

mors, tis, f. (L.; used in pathological anatomy); *finis, is, m = the end

thanat- (G.)

letalis, e / mortalis, e (L.)          = lethal                        *exitus letalis = natural
death

necr- (G.) = dead                    e.g necrosis; necrophilia

2. Terms using or derived from mors

mors biologica             = a permanent cellular damage resulting from lack of
oxygen,                                      which is irreversible

mors clinica                             = a cessation of blood circulation and breathing, which
is                                                        reversible by resuscitation methods

mors neonatalis                        = death of a new-born up to 10 days after birth

mors praenatalis                       = death of fetus before it starts breathing independently

mors in tabula                          = death on the operation table

mors subita                              = sudden death

mors lentissima             = very slow death

livor mortis                              = a settling of the blood in the lower (dependent)
portion of the                                               body after death causing a purplish
red discoloration of the                                                     skin

rigor mortis                              = post mortem stiffness caused by chemical changes in
muscles,                                              it subsides ca. after 24 hours

in articulo mortis                      = in the moment of death

moribundus, a, um                    = the one who is going to die, dying man

mortuus, a, um                         = dead

3. Other

in ultimis / in extremis    = in the last moments of life

vita minima                              = weak signs of life