What is the term for the cooling of the body after death until it matches the ambient temperature?

The term for the cooling of the body after death until it matches the ambient temperature is known as algor mortis. This process begins shortly after death and is influenced by various environmental factors, such as the temperature of the surrounding environment and the amount of body fat present. The cooling occurs at a relatively predictable rate, allowing investigators to use this information in forensic science to estimate the time of death.

Rigor mortis, which is another key term related to postmortem changes, refers to the stiffening of the muscles after death due to chemical changes in the body. Livor mortis describes the pooling of blood in the lower parts of the body, which occurs as blood circulation ceases and can provide clues about the position of the body after death. Postmortem interval is a broader term that refers to the time that has passed since death; it encompasses all biological changes that occur in a deceased body. However, none of these other terms specifically describe the cooling process that occurs after death, making algor mortis the accurate choice.