What term refers to the changes that occur in the body following death?

The term that refers to the changes that occur in the body following death is "postmortem changes." This term encompasses a wide range of physiological and biological transformations that the body undergoes after the cessation of life. These changes can include rigor mortis (the stiffening of muscles), livor mortis (settling of blood in dependent areas), and algor mortis (the cooling of the body), all of which are critical for determining the time of death and understanding the circumstances surrounding it.

While "autolysis" refers specifically to the self-digestion of cells and tissues by their own enzymes after death, and "decomposition" is the breakdown of organic matter by bacteria and fungi, these terms describe specific processes within the broader category of postmortem changes. "Cadaveric changes" is another term that identifies alterations in the body but is less commonly used than postmortem changes and can also refer to a variety of phenomena occurring after death. Therefore, the most comprehensive and widely recognized term for the overall changes occurring after death is postmortem changes.