Which term refers to the dying state during the agonal period?

The term that refers to the dying state during the agonal period is "moribund." This word is used in medical and caregiving contexts to describe a patient or individual who is near death and exhibiting signs of imminent dying. In the agonal period, which is the time leading up to death, the person is often experiencing significant physiological decline, mental confusion, and may show changes in vital signs.

This term emphasizes the state of being in the process of dying, rather than being deceased or experiencing any post-death changes, which would be considered in other terms like "postmortem." The "terminal" state is often used to refer to an illness that is expected to lead to death soon, but it does not capture the immediate physiological processes of dying as effectively as "moribund." "Exanguinated" pertains to the loss of blood, which can lead to death but is a more specific term that may not encompass the broader dying state experienced during the agonal period.