MadSci Network: Medicine
Query:

Re: When a person dies, what are the last cells to die?

Date: Wed Mar 10 05:25:21 2004
Posted By: Luc Ronchi, M.D., Anesthesiology, Anesthesiologie Hopital
Area of science: Medicine
ID: 1077929394.Me
Message:

You are right in stating that oxygen deprivation (anoxia)is responsible 
for cells death. The higher the metabolic activity in a cell, the shorter 
the duration of anoxia before the cell dies. Brain cells are known to 
die, in normothermic conditions, after a three minutes duration of oxygen 
deprivation.
We can imagine a "three steps" stair regarding that:
- very sensitive cells: brain, heart (a few minutes)
- sensitive cells: all other organs, such as kidney, liver (from ten 
minutes to hours, depending on many factors such as temperature and 
intrinsec activity)
- pauci sensitive cells: muscles, skin
The less sensitive cells are those who are responsible for hair and nail 
growth. It is common clinical pratice to notice that beard and nails have 
continued to growth after the patient has died.....

Hope this helps

Luc

Luc Ronchi, MD
Ped Anesthesia
Hopital de Saint-Nazaire, France


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