Pallor mortis

Pallor mortis is the postmortem paling of skin as blood drains from superficial vessels after circulation stops. It is an early, usually transient change after death.

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Cardiac arrest: The abrupt loss of effective heart function, stopping normal circulation. When the heart stops, blood no longer reaches superficial vessels, producing the paling.
Livor mortis: The purplish discoloration caused by blood pooling in dependent parts of a body after death. Its pooling contrasts with the relative blanching of skin where blood has drained away.
Forensic pathology: The medical specialty that investigates deaths with legal significance. Pallor mortis is one of several bodily changes considered during death investigation.
Microcirculation: Blood flow through the smallest vessels, including capillaries, arterioles, and venules. The color change is visible where circulation in superficial small vessels ceases.
Blood circulation: The movement of blood through the heart and blood vessels. Pallor mortis begins when circulation ceases and blood supply to the skin ends.
Rigor mortis: Postmortem stiffening of muscles caused by biochemical changes after death. It is a familiar postmortem change that develops later than the earliest pallor.
Death investigation: The process of determining the circumstances and cause of a death. Pallor can be documented as an observation, but rarely resolves an investigation by itself.
Capillary: A microscopic blood vessel connecting arterioles and venules. Capillaries near the skin surface contribute to its normal color.
Vasoconstriction: The narrowing of blood vessels caused by contraction of their muscular walls. Unlike active vessel narrowing, pallor mortis follows cessation of circulation.
Decomposition: The breakdown of a body after death through biological and chemical processes. Pallor occurs before decomposition substantially alters the skin.