What does the term "postmortem" refer to?

The term "postmortem" refers to events or examinations that occur after death. In a medical context, it is often associated with autopsies or analyses conducted to determine the cause of death, as well as the study of various bodily processes that occur after an individual has died. This term is derived from Latin, where "post" means "after" and "mortem" means "death." Understanding this term is particularly important in fields related to forensic medicine, pathology, and various health professions where comprehending the timeline of health events is crucial. It is distinct from other terms that describe conditions or times related to life, such as those that refer to periods before death or during pregnancy.