Death is not just one moment it’s a process.
Even though it might seem sudden, like when someone has a heart attack or an accident, different parts of the body keep working for a short time after the heart stops.
How Does Death Happen?
When someone dies, it usually starts with one of the three most important organs stopping:
- The heart (which pumps blood)
- The lungs (which help us breathe)
- The brain (which controls everything)
When one of these fails and doesn’t start working again, the others shut down soon after. But even when the brain, heart, and lungs stop, some other parts of the body keep working for a little while. This is because different parts need oxygen at different levels and stop working at different times.
What Happens in the First Few Minutes?
Once the heart stops, oxygen stops flowing.
- The brain is the first to be affected—it starts dying within 3 to 7 minutes.
- This is why doctors often say someone is dead when brain activity stops.
- But other organs can still work for a short time.
What is the Last Organ to Die?
Dr. Geetu Malhotra, a medical expert, says the liver is usually the last major organ to stop working.
- It can keep going for about an hour after death.
- Because of this, liver tissue is often still good for transplants right after death.
Some other parts of the body, like the skin and corneas (the clear part of the eye), stay alive even longer—sometimes hours or even days after death, especially if the body is kept in the right conditions.
In Summary – What Dies First and Last?
- First to die: Brain cells
- Last to die: Skin cells and corneas
- Last major organ: The liver
What Happens After Death?
- Within minutes: The brain shuts down. The heart and lungs stop. The skin becomes pale and cool.
- Within hours: The body gets stiff (called rigor mortis), starting from the face and spreading. Blood settles at the lowest parts of the body, causing purple marks.
- Within days: The body starts to break down. Skin loosens, and a bad smell appears as bacteria break down tissues.
Death is a slow and detailed process. While the body shuts down, some parts continue to work for a while, which helps doctors learn more about life and also save lives through organ donation.