Absorption of the fluid portion of blood by tissues after death, resulting in postmortem edema, is known as which term?

• A. Imbibition
• B. Dehydration
• C. Hypostasis
• D. Livor mortis

Answer: (A)

Imbibition is the absorption of the liquid portion of blood by tissues after death, which leads to postmortem edema. After death, tissues become more permeable and fluids from the blood diffuse into the surrounding tissues, causing swelling. This is different from livor mortis (hypostasis), which is due to gravity pulling blood into dependent parts and causing discoloration, not fluid uptake by tissues. Dehydration would mean fluid loss, not absorption, so it doesn’t describe this process.