Outline of death

Death is the cessation of all biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include aging, predation, malnutrition, disease, suicide, homicide, starvation, dehydration, and accidents or major trauma resulting in terminal injury.

Definition

The remains of a formerly living organism normally begin to decompose shortly after death. Death is an inevitable, universal process that eventually occurs in all living organisms.

Causes of death

Death can occur through natural causes, accidental causes, medical conditions, and through deliberate actions such as suicide or murder.

Natural causes

Natural causes of death include aging and disease. Aging is a process that leads to the deterioration of the body's systems, which can eventually lead to death. Diseases can also cause death by damaging the body's systems or creating conditions that the body cannot survive.

Accidental causes

Accidental causes of death include accidents and injuries. Accidents can cause death by causing severe damage to the body's systems, such as the brain or heart. Injuries can also cause death by damaging the body's systems or creating conditions that the body cannot survive.

Medical conditions

Medical conditions that can cause death include cancer, heart disease, and stroke. These conditions can cause death by damaging the body's systems or creating conditions that the body cannot survive.

Deliberate actions

Deliberate actions that can cause death include suicide and murder. Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death, while murder is the unlawful killing of another person.

Cultural aspects

Different cultures have different beliefs and practices surrounding death. These can include beliefs about what happens after death, rituals for mourning the dead, and practices for disposing of the dead.

Glossary of terms

This glossary provides definitions and explanations of terms related to death and dying.

A

• Afterlife: A concept of existence or consciousness continuing after physical death.
• Autopsy: A medical examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death.
• Anatomical donation: The voluntary donation of a body or body parts for medical research and education.

B

• Bereavement: The state of mourning after a loved one's death.
• Brain death: The irreversible cessation of all brain activity, used as a legal definition of death in many jurisdictions.
• Burial: The act of placing a deceased person into the ground or a tomb.

C

• Cadaver: A dead human body, often used in medical research and education.
• Cremation: The process of burning a dead body to ashes.
• Cryonics: The preservation of a body or brain at low temperatures in the hope of future revival.
• Crypt: An underground chamber or vault for storing bodies, typically beneath a church.

D

• Death: The cessation of all biological functions that sustain an organism.
• Death certificate: An official document stating the date, location, and cause of a person's death.
• Death penalty: The state-sanctioned execution of an individual as punishment for a crime.
• Deathbed: The state of being near death, often referring to the final moments of life.

E

• Euthanasia: The act of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering; also referred to as "mercy killing."
• Embalming: The process of preserving a body after death to delay decomposition.
• End-of-life care: Medical and emotional support provided to individuals in the final stages of life.

F

• Fatality: Death caused by an accident or disaster.
• Funeral: A ceremony held to honor and remember a deceased person.
• Funeral home: A business that provides services related to funerals and the care of the deceased.

G

• Grave: A site where a dead body is buried.
• Gravestone: A marker, typically inscribed, placed on a grave to identify the deceased.
• Grief: The emotional response to loss, particularly the death of a loved one.

H

• Homicide: The killing of one person by another, which may be intentional or unintentional.
• Hospice: A service or facility providing end-of-life care for the terminally ill.

I

• Inheritance: Property or assets passed down to heirs after someone's death.
• Inhumation: Another term for burial, referring to the interment of a body.

L

• Last rites: Religious rituals performed for a person who is dying or has recently died.
• Life support: Medical equipment or procedures used to sustain life in critically ill or injured individuals.

M

• Memento mori: A Latin phrase meaning "remember you must die," often used to prompt reflection on mortality.
• Memorial: An object, structure, or event created to honor the memory of someone who has died.
• Morgue: A facility where dead bodies are stored for identification, autopsy, or burial preparation.

N

• Necropsy: Another term for autopsy, typically used for animals.
• Near-death experience: A phenomenon reported by people who were close to death, often involving visions or sensations.

O

• Obituary: A written notice of a person's death, often published in newspapers or online.
• Organ donation: The act of donating organs or tissues from a deceased person for transplantation.

P

• Pallbearer: A person who helps carry the casket at a funeral.
• Postmortem: Occurring or performed after death, such as a postmortem examination.
• Palliative care: Medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness.

R

• Reincarnation: The belief that a soul is reborn into a new body after death.
• Resuscitation: Medical procedures used to revive someone who has experienced cardiac arrest or other life-threatening conditions.

S

• Suicide: The act of intentionally ending one's own life.
• Stillbirth: The death of a fetus after 20 weeks of pregnancy but before birth.

T

• Tomb: A structure built to house and honor the dead.
• Thanatology: The scientific study of death and the practices associated with it.

U

• Unmarked grave: A burial site with no marker or identifier.

V

• Voluntary euthanasia: Euthanasia conducted with the explicit consent of the individual.

W

• Wake: A gathering held to honor and remember a deceased person, often before burial or cremation.
• Will: A legal document stating a person's wishes for the distribution of their property after death.

Gallery

• 

  A funeral meal

• 

  A gravestone

• 

  A memorial plaque

See also

• Aging
• Disease
• Suicide
• Homicide
• Starvation
• Dehydration
• Accidents
• Trauma

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