Post mortem lividity begins to appear how long after death?

Post mortem lividity, also known as hypostasis, refers to the pooling of blood in the lower parts of the body after death due to the cessation of circulation. It typically begins to manifest within two hours after death. At this stage, the blood starts to settle in the areas where gravity pulls it down, which causes the skin in those areas to change color, primarily to a purplish hue.

The timing is significant in forensic science because it helps determine the time of death and the position of the body at the time of death. Understanding this timeline is crucial for investigators to create an accurate picture of the circumstances surrounding a person's death.

While post mortem lividity can become more pronounced with additional time after death, the two-hour mark is the recognized threshold where it first becomes apparent.