What are the changes called that occur in the body before somatic death?

The changes that occur in the body before somatic death are referred to as "antemortem changes." These changes take place while the individual is still alive and can include a variety of physiological and biochemical processes that occur as the body approaches death. Understanding these changes is crucial in mortuary science, as they help professionals assess the state of the body during and after the dying process.

Antemortem changes are significant because they may influence how the body is managed after death and can provide insight into the circumstances leading up to death. The focus is on physiological deterioration, which can precede the specific moment of death.

Other terms like postmortem changes refer to alterations that happen after death, clinical changes relate to observable signs during a medical examination prior to death, and biological changes generally encompass both life and death processes without specifying a timeframe. Thus, "antemortem changes" distinctly identifies the changes that happen before the onset of somatic death and is the most appropriate term among the choices provided.