Introduction

It is the quick dehydration/desiccation of the dead corpse caused by water evaporation, with retention of the natural features and looks of the body. The entire body loses weight, becomes lean, stiff, brittle, and odourless. It is modification of putrefaction (dry decomposition). The natural decomposition of the dead body is stopped because the growth of the microorganisms is slowed.

Salient features of mummification

* The entire body, including the internal organs, is affected after starting in the exposed areas of the body, such as the face (lips, tip of nose), hands, and feet.

* Due to the liquid subcutaneous fat being absorbed, the skin may appear transparent. It typically has a shrivelled, contracted appearance that is brown in colour, dry, brittle, leathery, and rusty. Anatomical prominences including the cheekbones, chin, costal edges, and hips have skin that is tightly stretched over them, adheres to the bones, and is frequently covered in fungus growths.

* Internal organs may no longer be recognisable as they become shruken, hard, dark-brown or black, and combine into a single mass.

* The mummified material typically exhibits collagen, elastic tissues, cardiac and skeletal muscle, cartilage, and bone histologically.

* On rare occasions, a body may exhibit signs of adipocere alterations in some areas and mummification in others. As a result, the arms and legs may be mummified along with adipocere on the cheeks, abdomen, and buttocks.

Time required for mummification

Mummification takes anywhere from 3 to 12 months or longer to complete.

Favouring Factors of mummification

1. Environment that is hot: Such as a desert.

2. In a dry environment, mummification cannot take place.

3. Free air flow: This promotes the quick evaporation of bodily fluids.

4. Contact of the body with an absorbing medium: When a dead body is placed in a shallow grave with dry, sandy soil, the body fluids quickly seep into the soil, mummifying the body.

5. Poisoning: Prolonged antimony or arsenic poisoning is advantageous to mummification.

Medico- legal aspects

They have the same medical and legal significance as adipocere.