When a body arrives at a morgue, staff follow a careful sequence of steps: identifying the person, storing the body under refrigeration, performing an external examination or full autopsy if needed, collecting samples for testing, and eventually releasing the body to a funeral home. The specifics depend on whether the death was expected or requires investigation, but the overall process is designed to preserve the body, determine the cause of death, and maintain legal documentation at every stage.
Arrival and Identification
The first thing that happens is confirming who the person is. Staff check identification provided by the hospital, law enforcement, or the transporting agency, then attach a tag to the body with a unique case number. This tag stays with the body through every step. Any personal belongings, clothing, and medical devices (like IV lines or breathing tubes) are cataloged and either stored or removed.
Medical intervention devices are removed and the body is washed. This initial cleaning isn’t cosmetic. It’s practical: staff need a clear view of the skin to note any injuries, marks, surgical scars, or other features that could matter for identification or determining how the person died.
Refrigerated Storage
Bodies are moved into refrigerated compartments kept at approximately 2°C (about 36°F). At this temperature, the biological processes that cause decomposition slow dramatically. Research in forensic science confirms that cool storage significantly delays tissue breakdown compared to room temperature, which is why morgues maintain strict temperature controls with continuous monitoring charts.
Most morgues use stainless steel body trays that slide into wall-mounted compartments or walk-in coolers. Hydraulic lifts with a capacity of around 600 pounds help staff transfer bodies safely between trays, transport carts, and examination tables. If a body needs to be held for an extended period, such as in a criminal investigation or when next of kin can’t be located, some facilities use freezer storage at well below 0°C.
External Examination
Every body that comes through a morgue receives at least an external examination. A medical examiner or coroner’s physician carefully inspects the unclothed body, documenting everything visible: wounds, bruises, skin discoloration, needle marks, signs of medical treatment, tattoos, and the general condition of the body. The goal is to determine the cause and manner of death, which falls into one of five categories: natural, accident, suicide, homicide, or undetermined.
In many cases, particularly when someone dies of a known illness under a doctor’s care, the external exam is sufficient. The examiner reviews the person’s medical history, matches it against what they see, and certifies the cause of death without opening the body.
When a Full Autopsy Is Performed
A full autopsy happens when the external exam alone can’t explain why someone died. This includes unexpected deaths, deaths involving possible foul play, unwitnessed deaths, and deaths during or shortly after medical procedures. In these situations, the manner of death is classified as “unexplained” until an internal examination provides answers.
During the autopsy, a Y-shaped incision is made across the chest and down the abdomen. The ribcage is opened to access the heart, lungs, and other organs, which are removed, weighed, and examined individually. The pathologist looks for signs of disease, injury, poisoning, or any abnormality. The skull is also opened so the brain can be examined.
After the examination is complete, organs are either returned to the body or retained for further testing if needed. The chest, abdominal, and cranial cavities are closed with sutures. The body is washed again, and all instruments, tables, and surfaces are cleaned with a bleach solution before the next case. Staff wash their hands each time protective equipment is removed, and every surface is disinfected between examinations.
Sample Collection and Toxicology
If there’s any question about drugs, alcohol, poison, or medication levels, the morgue collects fluid and tissue samples for toxicology testing. The main samples include blood drawn from the femoral vein in the leg (chosen because it’s far from internal organs and less affected by chemical changes after death), about 30 milliliters of cardiac blood from the heart, and urine collected either by needle through the lower abdomen or directly from the bladder during autopsy.
One sample many people don’t expect: the fluid inside the eyes. Called vitreous humor, this clear gel (typically 2 to 5 milliliters per adult) is drawn by inserting a needle through the outer corner of each eye. Because it’s isolated from the rest of the body’s circulation, it gives a more accurate picture of certain substances at the time of death than blood does. Stomach contents and small pieces of liver or lung tissue may also be collected for analysis.
What Happens With Unidentified Bodies
When a body arrives without identification, the process becomes more extensive. A specialized protocol kicks in that includes fingerprinting, full-body photography, and photographing any personal belongings found with the person. A full-body CT scan and dental scan are performed so the results can be compared against existing medical and dental records if a possible identity surfaces later.
DNA samples are collected using specialized cards designed for long-term storage of genetic material. In cases where the body is badly decomposed, bone samples are taken instead. These genetic profiles are entered into national DNA databases and compared against existing records. If relatives come forward months or years later, matching is still possible. One study from the Paris Institute of Medical-Legal Sciences found that implementing a systematic protocol of fingerprinting, DNA sampling, CT scanning, and biological profiling for every unidentified body cut the number of people buried without a name in half.
Releasing the Body
Once the examination is complete and no legal holds remain, the morgue releases the body to a funeral home. This requires specific paperwork: the legal next of kin or an authorized representative must designate a funeral director, and that funeral director submits a removal authorization form to the coroner’s office. Both forms must be on file before a release is scheduled.
When the funeral home representative arrives to collect the body, they must present identification to the morgue attendant. The attendant verifies the paperwork, confirms the identity of the deceased one final time, and documents the transfer. From this point, the body passes into the care of the funeral home for embalming, cremation, or whatever arrangements the family has chosen. All trays and transport surfaces used are cleaned and disinfected after every release.